SCOTLAND

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she intends to meet health ministers from the UK Government and the devolved Administrations to discuss NHS waiting lists.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with UK Ministers and Scottish Ministers on a wide range of issues. Last autumn, on my behalf, my hon. and learned Friend the Advocate-General attended the Joint Ministerial Committee on Health, when a variety of issues was discussed. However, NHS waiting lists in Scotland are a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.

Rail Network

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the regions on the Strategic Rail Authority plan as it affects Scotland.

George Foulkes: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues at the DTLR on a wide range of matters, including the operation of the rail network.

Rural Economy

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the future viability of the rural economy in Scotland with special reference to designation of assisted areas.

George Foulkes: Rural Scotland has a dynamic and vibrant economy and enjoys significant regional aid coverage.

Small Business

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to encourage small business development in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: We have delivered the conditions under which business can prosper. The fundamentals of the Scottish economy as part of the UK economy remain strong—high levels of employment, low levels of unemployment, strong public finances, low inflation and the low interest rates. Specific support activity to encourage small business development in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Small Business

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next expects to meet representatives of small businesses to discuss regulation and employment issues.

Helen Liddell: I next plan to meet the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business on Monday 11 March.

European Capital of Culture

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the role of her Department in the competition for European Capital of Culture 2008.

Helen Liddell: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for identifying the UK nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008. The Scotland Office has been involved in preparatory work to establish a process for assessing bids to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her policy is on the use of railways for ministerial travel between Glasgow and London.

Helen Liddell: I use the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport and travel by train as and when appropriate.

Unemployment

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on unemployment in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Latest figures show that the number of people in Scotland out of work and claiming benefit stands at 104,700, a reduction of 600 on the previous month and down by 6,400 over the year.

Energy Review

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the Scotland Office involvement in the PIU energy review.

George Foulkes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 165W.

Energy Review

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the contribution made by her office to the energy review, with special reference to clean coal technology.

George Foulkes: I represented the Scotland Office on the PIU Energy Review Project Advisory Group. The potential role of clean coal technology was within the scope of the review.
	Government policy is to encourage the development of clean coal technology for application both at home and abroad.

Energy Review

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations she has received concerning the Government's energy policy in Scotland.

George Foulkes: I represented the Scotland Office on the PIU Energy Review Project Advisory Group. I have regular discussions with a wide range of individuals and organisations with interests in different aspect of energy policy.

Aggregates Levy

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has made to the Treasury on the imposition of the aggregates levy in Scotland.

George Foulkes: I met with representatives of the British Aggregates Association on 21 January and conveyed to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the views expressed by the Association.

Aggregates Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations have been made to Her Majesty's Treasury on the aggregates levy; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 19 December 2001
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State met with representatives of the British Aggregates Association on 21 January and conveyed to my right hon. Friend the financial Secretary to the Treasury the views expressed by the Association.

Aggregates Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the amount yielded from the proposed aggregates levy in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: holding answer 19 December 2001
	The proposed aggregates levy is expected to raise around £380 million in the UK in its first full year. The revenues raised will be returned to business and local communities affected by quarrying through a 0.1 percentage point cut in employer's national insurance contribution. Additionally Scotland's share from the Sustainability Fund, allocated by HM Treasury using the Barnett formula, is likely to be approximately £3 million.

Friends of Scotland Initiative

Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister about her Friends of Scotland initiative.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues. The First Minister is very supportive of my Friends of Scotland initiative and we will work together on this for Scotland.

Air Traffic Control Centre, Prestwick

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met representatives of NATS to discuss construction of the Prestwick air traffic control centre.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his previous questions on the subject on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 710W.

Attendance Allowance

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to her answer of 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 595W, on attendance allowance, what role the Scotland Office played in discussions with the Scottish Executive on payment of attendance allowance to those recipients who will be entitled to receive free personal care in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: I have nothing more to add to the answer given to the hon. Lady on 21 January 2002, Official Report, columns 595–96.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland are benefiting from the minimum income guarantee.

George Foulkes: Around 181,000 people in Scotland benefit from the minimum income guarantee.

Scottish Parliament

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive about the costs of the devolved Parliament.

Helen Liddell: I have regular discussions with Scottish Executive Ministers. The costs of the Scottish Parliament will be met from the Scottish Assigned Budget.

Oil and Gas Industry

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Minister for Energy to discuss developments in the UK oil and gas industry.

George Foulkes: I have regular discussions with my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy to discuss a wide range of issues including the UK oil and gas industry.

Euro

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Board of Directors of the Scotland in Europe campaign to discuss the impact of the euro on Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: I meet regularly with a wide range of people and organisations to discuss issues relating to the Scottish economy. Scottish businesses that have trading links with the euro area, not just those who export or import, will be affected. The Government are therefore committed to working in partnership with the Scottish Executive and with business to ensure the right level of euro preparations in Scotland for working with the euro now.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and Civil Service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No staff have been seconded to my Department from the private sector.

Devolution Funding Policy

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on her role as the Minister responsible for the Government's financial relations with the devolved Administration in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Details of the financial arrangements with the devolved Administration in Scotland were set out in "Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly: A Statement of Funding Policy". The second edition of the Statement was published in July 2000 by HM Treasury.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Devolution

David Cairns: To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement about (a) the subject matter and (b) changes in the number of devolution cases taken to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council since 1998.

Lynda Clark: Since May 1999, nine devolution issue cases have been taken to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. All nine cases have concerned points arising under the European Convention on Human Rights. Among the subject matters of the cases were section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, prejudicial pre-trial publicity, assumptions under the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 as to whether property was the proceeds of crime, fixed legal aid payments, the competence of section 1 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 1999, temporary sheriffs, and delay in criminal proceedings. The number of cases in each year was: in 2000, three cases; in 2001, five cases; and so far in 2002, one case.

Devolution

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised in the last month under the Scotland Act 1998.

Lynda Clark: Since 1 January 2002, 19 devolution issue cases have been intimated to me. They have all raised points under article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights which protects the right to a fair trial.

Duties

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Advocate-General pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1126W, on her duties, if she will make a statement, in light of the role she has developed under the Scotland Act, on the actings of the Scottish Executive with respect to which she has sought to ensure that the UK Government have early warning.

Lynda Clark: I encourage lawyers from my office to work together closely with Scottish Executive lawyers at an early stage in the development of legislation. Any difficulties will, where possible, be resolved through consultation between the Government and the Scottish Executive. The lawyers in my office will play a part in identifying difficulties and resolving them and I will advise as Advocate-General on occasion.

European Institutions (Reform)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement on the implications of reform of European institutions on the operation of the Scotland Act 1998.

Lynda Clark: Sections 29(2)(d) and 57(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 ensure that the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Ministers cannot act incompatibly with Community law. Any changes in Community law which may result from reform of the European institutions would not change that position.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Portcullis House

Colin Pickthall: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the number of repairs required to the fabric and installations of Portcullis House since it was opened; and what is the estimated total cost.

Archy Kirkwood: Contractors are responsible for repairing any faults in their work identified in the 12 months following the hand-over of Portcullis House in August 2000. During the first 12 months some 3,200 defects were identified, ranging from a missing screw to a cracked pane of glass. This is well within the expected norm for a new building of this size and complexity—the vast majority of defects were minor and have not affected the users of the building. The costs of these repairs do not fall to the House of Commons; they are borne by the contractors.
	The repairs for which the House has been responsible have mostly been minor and have been carried out as part of the day to day maintenance of the building.

Select Committees

Jim Dobbin: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he has for reform of the system for the appointment of members to select committees.

Robin Cook: The Modernisation Committee published its first report on select committees this morning.
	The committee recommends that a new Nominations Committee, chaired by the chairman of Ways and Means and including seven of the most senior members of the Chairman's Panel, should be responsible for overseeing the process of nominations to select committees.
	We believe that the new committee will be provide an independent mechanism, placing nominations to all select committees in the hands of an independent authoritative body and ensuring that the nominations to the committees that scrutinise Government are in the hands of the Commons.

Private Members' Bills

Anne Picking: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to make proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to reform the system of Private Members' Bills.

Stephen Twigg: I am aware many Members would like to see reform of the system of Private Members' Bills. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to make as yet, but we would welcome hon. Members' views.

Members' Pensions (Survivor Benefits)

Jane Griffiths: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the impact of the June 2001 decision to extend hon. Members' pension plans to their unmarried partners.

Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend has asked the Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund to consider the matter. I should remind the House that, should extension of survivor benefits to unmarried partners lead to increased costs to the scheme, we would expect these costs to be borne by scheme members.

Works of Art

Harry Cohen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much is available to commission and acquire works of art for the Palace of Westminster.

Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons has an Acquisition Budget of £50,000 in the current financial year for acquiring works of art, supplemented by an Acquisition Budget of £100,000 in the current financial year for acquiring works of art specifically for Portcullis House. In the new financial year, 2002–03, the main budget will rise to £100,000 and a further £100,000 will be available for Portcullis House. Mr. Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art is responsible for commissioning and acquiring works of art for the House of Commons. The House of Lords has separate acquisition funds.

Sitting Hours

Derek Wyatt: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on changes to the parliamentary timetable and calendar.

Stephen Twigg: I expect the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons may wish to report on changes to the parliamentary calendar.
	The dates of periodic adjournments are always subject to vote by the House.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how much has been spent on timber for the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building.

Derek Conway: The cost of timber to be supplied under the contract for the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South is some £80,000.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how much certified timber has been used in the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents.

Derek Conway: All the timber supplied for the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South is being certified as lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed sustainably.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what action was taken by his Committee to ensure that timber procured for the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building was sourced both (a) sustainably and (b) legally.

Derek Conway: The General Specification used for parliamentary works contains the following clause:
	"Sources of timber: it is the employer's policy to purchase only timber and timber products from sustainably managed sources. When requested, the contractor must submit to the project manager documentary evidence (which has been or can be independently verified) that the timber supplied under this contract has been lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their bio-diversity, productivity and vitality and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people. Such evidence may take the form of a certificate issued under a credible independent verification system, or such other documents which demonstrate the operation of an environmental management system incorporating forest management criteria that conform with internationally recognised principles such as the Helsinki guidelines."
	This clause was added in 2000 and has applied to all contracts drafted since then. The contract for the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South was agreed before then but the contractor is nevertheless supplying certification in line with the clause.

Select Committee Websites

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Chairman of the Information Select Committee how many hits there were on the website of each departmental select committee in the weeks beginning (a) 28 January and (b) 4 February; and if any website went down because of excess demand.

Michael Fabricant: The figures for hits on the website of each departmental select committee for the weeks listed are given in the following table. Totals are derived from committee pages on both the parliament server (home pages and press notices) and the publications server (committee publications). No down-time was recorded on either server during the period 28 January to 10 February 2002.
	
		
			  28 January to 3 February  4 to 10 February  
			 Departmental committee Parliament server(1) hits Publications server(2) hits Total hits Parliament server hits Publications server hits Total hits 
		
		
			 Culture, Media and Sport 4,988 5,952 10,940 3,202 5,454 8,656 
			 Defence 3,335 4,947 8,282 2,088 4,192 6,280 
			 Education and Skills 874 773 1,647 560 522 1,082 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 868 1,286 2,154 508 736 1,244 
			 Foreign Affairs 4,571 4,466 9,037 2,603 3,113 5,716 
			 Health 2,268 6,164 8,432 1,480 5,711 7,191 
			 Home Affairs 2,250 4,218 6,468 2,250 2,975 5,225 
			 International Development 4,338 3,440 7,778 2,715 2,911 5,626 
			 Northern Ireland Affairs 2,415 1,617 4,032 1,499 654 2,153 
			 Science and Technology 4,262 4,042 8,304 2,587 3,373 5,960 
			 Scottish Affairs 1,135 2,256 3,391 753 999 1,752 
			 Trade and Industry 3,938 5,798 9,736 2,719 7,035 9,754 
			 Transport, Local Government and the Regions 2,839 4,402 7,241 2,217 4,817 7,034 
			 Treasury 3,519 4,463 7,982 2,461 2,559 5,020 
			 Welsh Affairs 2,973 1,516 4,489 1,852 1,438 3,290 
			 Work and Pensions 323 288 611 213 217 430 
			  
			 Total 44,896 55,628 100,524 29,707 46,706 76,413 
		
	
	(1) Select Committee home and press notice pages are held on the Parliament server www.parliament.uk in Westminster
	(2) Select Committee publications
	(3) pages are held on the Publications server www.publications.parliament.uk in Norwich

LORD CHANCELLOR

Judiciary

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to encourage employers to give working magistrates sufficient time off work to fulfil their Bench duties.

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on initiatives to encourage more people on low incomes to become JPs.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what initiatives are being taken to broaden the social mix of magistrates.

Michael Wills: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is committed to producing a national strategy for recruitment. His local advisory committees undertake a range of recruitment initiatives and these have delivered a Bench that has equal numbers of men and women and increasingly reflects the ethnic composition of the population. We need to do more to improve the social composition. The national strategy will be our means of delivering this aim. It will be published in the spring.

Transsexuals

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has for changes to the legal status of transsexual people.

Rosie Winterton: Issues of concern to transsexual people were considered by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People. The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and are considering how to take the matter further.

Child Guardians

Julie Morgan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in setting up an IT system that will enable child guardians to record the details of the children with whom they work.

Rosie Winterton: Establishment of CAFCASS as a new, unified service provides an opportunity for improved communication and case management across the service. CAFCASS's IT project has been taken forward in two phases. Phase 1 provided a general infrastructure for CAFCASS. It is operating alongside systems inherited by CAFCASS from its predecessor services, which record case information on children who are the subject of court reports. The plans for Phase 2 provide for development of an integrated system to extend Phase 1 systems and supply improved management information, including case information, and interfaces with other organisations. CAFCASS is currently reviewing its Phase 2 IT strategy to assess immediate and longer term needs in the light of the operating experience it now has.

Criminal Courts (Reorganisation)

David Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the Auld report recommendations for a middle tier court; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: A total of 365 responses were received by the end of the period for public comment on 31 January. Of the representations received, a proportion referred to the middle tier court but the exact figure is not yet known. Representations on all the recommendations in Sir Robin Auld's report are now being carefully considered and analysed in detail. Responses from the general public and the main criminal justice stakeholders, subject to their agreement, will be placed on the Lord Chancellor's website www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

Parking Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what car parking spaces are provided and what the average annual cost of providing such spaces is for (a) the Official Solicitor's Office, (b) the Council on Tribunals, (c) the Statutory Publications Office and (d) the Judge Advocate- General's Office.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Official Solicitor's Office does not provide car-parking spaces.
	(b) The Council on Tribunals has one parking space, the cost of which is included in the rent and not calculated as a separate amount.
	(c) The Statutory Publications Office does not provide car-parking spaces.
	(d) The Office of the Judge Advocate General has three spaces, the cost of which is included in the rent and not calculated as a separate amount.

Parking Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what car parking spaces are provided and what the average annual cost of providing them is for the (a) Domestic Legal Services, (b) Legal Services Commission, (c) Legal Services Ombudsman and (d) Law Commission.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	(a) It is not clear which organisation is envisaged in the term 'Domestic Legal Services'.
	(b) The Legal Services Commission has a total of 169 car parking spaces over 19 sites. The estimated annual average cost for providing these spaces is £170,000, or £1,000 per space.
	(c) The Legal Services Ombudsman provides six car-parking spaces at an annual cost of £1,500 each.
	(d) The Law Commission provides no car-parking spaces.

Parking Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what car parking spaces are provided and what the average annual cost is for providing such spaces to (a) CAFCASS, (b) the Public Guardianship Office and (c) the Public Record Office.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	(a) CAFCASS' headquarters at Archway Tower has seven parking spaces which cost £3,954. The number and cost of car parking spaces provided for the remainder of CAFCASS's estate is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(b) The Public Guardianship Office's section of the car park at Archway Tower provides space for 42 cars. These spaces are for the use of contractors, visitors and staff. The Public Guardianship Office pays £25,200 per year to rent this space, which includes a secure bicycle rack.
	(c) The Public Record Office provides 116 car parking spaces for members of the public using its facilities and 106 spaces for staff as its Kew site. In addition, there are four disabled spaces for use by either staff or public. The average annual total cost of providing these spaces is £121,659.

Parking Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many car parking spaces are reserved for judges; what the total cost is of providing such spaces; and what criteria are used for allocating car parking spaces to judges.

Michael Wills: Data on judicial car parking spaces have been collected for 63 of the largest court buildings. These are shown in the table. These buildings represent 75 per cent. of the Court Service estate. The information for the remainder of the estate is not immediately available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The judicial car parking spaces for the above buildings form part of the site and are not paid for separately. Judges are categorised as essential users of court buildings and car parking spaces are allocated to them on that basis.
	
		Judicial car parking spaces
		
			 Property name Number of spaces 
		
		
			 Basildon Combined Court 7 
			 Basingstoke County Court 6 
			 Blackfriars Crown Court 13 
			 Bournemouth Combined Court 11 
			 Bow County Court 4 
			 Bradford Combined Court 12 
			 Brighton County Court 6 
			 Bristol Crown Court 13 
			 Cardiff Civil Justice Centre 11 
			 Cardiff Crown Court 8 
			 Central Criminal Court 18 
			 Central London Trial Centre 14 
			 Chelmsford Crown Court 6 
			 Chester Crown Court 4 
			 Chichester Combined Court Hearings 3 
			 Derby Combined Court 5 
			 Durham Crown Court 2 
			 Exeter Combined Court 2 
			 GKN House, 22 Kingsway—Public Trust Office 6 
			 Great Grimsby Combined Court 4 
			 Harrow Crown Court 8 
			 Immigration Appellate Authority, Taylor House 11 
			 Inner London Sessions House, Newington House 10 
			 Ipswich Crown Court 3 
			 Isleworth Crown Court 8 
			 Kingston upon Hull Combined Court 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames Crown Court 12 
			 LCD Headquarters, Selborne House 8 
			 Leeds Combined Court 17 
			 Leicester Crown Court 10 
			 Lewes Combined Court 5 
			 Luton Crown Court 3 
			 Maidstone Combined Court 14 
			 Manchester Crown (Crown Square) 16 
			 Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court 7 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Combined Court 13 
			 Newport Crown Court 3 
			 Norwich Combined Court 11 
			 Nottingham Combined Court 12 
			 Official Referees Courts, St. Dunstans House 6 
			 Oxford Combined Court 9 
			 Peterborough Combined Court 6 
			 Portsmouth Combined Court 9 
			 PRFD First Avenue House 10 
			 Principal Registry of the Family Division 6 
			 Reading Crown Court 11 
			 Royal Courts of Justice 57 
			 Southwark Crown Court 21 
			 Swansea County Court 7 
			 Swansea Crown Court 10 
			 Teeside Combined Court 3 
			 Truro Combined Court 4 
			 Worcester Crown Court 5 
			 York County Court 3 
			 York Crown Court 5 
			  
			 Grand total 504

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had in the past year with employers' organisations to encourage their members to give time off for Bench duties.

Michael Wills: I have not held any such discussions. However, the issue of gaining support from more employers will be addressed in the national strategy for recruitment, which will be published in the spring.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of magistrates are (a) full-time employed, (b) self employed, (c) part- time workers, (d) retired and (e) unemployed.

Michael Wills: 72.3 per cent. of magistrates are recorded as being in paid employment and 27.7 per cent. are recorded as being "not in paid employment". No distinction is made in our records between full-time and part-time or between retired and unemployed.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the magistracy is aged under (a) 60 and (b) 40.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor gave a breakdown of the magistracy in his Judicial Appointments annual report 2000–01,(Cmd 5248). The report showed that 4 per cent. of magistrates were aged under 40 and 64.6 per cent. were aged between 40 and 60. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of working magistrates work in (a) the public and (b) the private sectors.

Michael Wills: Our records on magistrates' occupations are not broken down into public and private sector. The following table provides a breakdown by occupation category. However, this can only be a rough guide to the proportions working in the public and private sectors because some lecturers and teachers will work in the private sector for instance, as will some health care employees.
	
		Occupational breakdown of magistrates
		
			 Occupation Percentage 
		
		
			 Lecturers and teachers 8.7 
			 Civil servants 3.7 
			 Local government employees 4.6 
			 Farmers and other agricultural workers 1.5 
			 Health care professionals 3.8 
			 Other health care employees 3.0 
			 Other professionals 23.6 
			 Employees of national companies 4.7 
			 Employees of local companies/organisations 10.0 
			 Self-employed 8.8 
			 Not in paid employment 27.7

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many full-time employed magistrates have been (a) put onto the reserve list and (b) retired from the bench, in each of the last two years because of difficulties in getting time off for bench duties; and what proportion of working magistrates that represented in each year.

Michael Wills: In total approximately 18,000 magistrates are in paid employment. In 1999, 182 magistrates resigned citing pressure of work or employment difficulties as the reason. In 2000 the figure was 186 and in 2000–01 (from which year figures were kept by financial year) the figure was 221. That is about 1 per cent. of all employed magistrates each year.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 is ensuring that working magistrates have sufficient time off work to fulfil their bench duties.

Michael Wills: My officials are not normally informed of magistrates experiencing difficulties in obtaining sufficient time off to fulfil their bench duties. That is an issue between the employee and the employer, although the Clerk to the Justices or Secretary to the Advisory Committee will encourage the employer to be more supportive if the magistrate is happy for the Clerk to do so. Therefore I am not in a position to state whether section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 is ensuring that working magistrates have sufficient time off work to fulfil their bench duties.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the employers who have discouraged their employees from undertaking Bench duties in the last five years.

Michael Wills: If magistrates experience difficulties with their employers discouraging them from undertaking Bench duties, the normal course is for the Clerk to the Justices or the Secretary to the Advisory Committee to contact employers to encourage them to be more supportive by persuading them that it benefits them to have employees who are magistrates because of the skills which magistrates develop in the discharge of their judicial duties. It would be unusual for issues between a magistrate and his or her employer to be reported to my officials and no record is kept of the rare instances they are reported.

Magistrates

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the provisions of section 51 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 have been used by a magistrate; and what the outcome was in each case.

Michael Wills: If all attempts by the Clerk to the Justices or Secretary to the Advisory Committee to encourage an employer to be more supportive fail, and a magistrate decides to take his or her employer to an employment tribunal, that is a matter between the employee and the employer. My officials are not normally informed of any cases nor the outcome, nor is any record kept of those rare cases when they take place.

Magistrates

Helen Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people from Warrington, North constituency were serving as magistrates in Warrington (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: On the latest available information, approximately 57 per cent. of the magistrates currently serving on the Warrington Bench live in the Warrington, North constituency compared to 59 per cent. in 1997.

Judge Advocate-General

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what official foreign visits the Judge Advocate-General has made since his appointment; and what was the purpose of such visits.

Rosie Winterton: Records are available from 1996 and the information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Schedule of foreign official visits by Judge Advocate-General 1996–2001
		
			 Date Place visited Duration Purpose of visit 
		
		
			 July 1996 Canada 5 days Commonwealth law conference 
			 
			 June 1997 Hungary 5 days Military law conference, and to advise on UK military law 
			 August 1997 Washington DC, USA 5 days To attend international conference on criminal and military law 
			 November 1997 West Point and Maxwell Air Force Base, USA 5 days To give a lecture on UK military law and human rights at both institutions 
			 
			 May 1998 Romania 3 days To address a NATO seminar on military law 
			 September 1998 USA Washington DC, USA To attend international conference on criminal and military law 
			 
			 April 1999 Ankara, Turkey 4 days To address a military conference on military law and human rights 
			 May 1999 Estonia 3 days To advise on UK military law (with the Provost Marshal) 
			 June 1999 Hungary 5 days Military law conference, and to advise on UK military law 
			 September 1999 USA Washington DC, USA To attend international conference on criminal and military law 
			 
			 February 2000 Charlottesville and Georgetown University DC 5 days To give a presentation on UK military law and human rights 
			 April 2000 The Hague 2 days Visit to International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia 
			 September 2000 Canada (Calgary) 5 days Interview candidates for judicial officer posts with JAG office 
			 October 2000 Gibraltar 3 days Interview candidates for judicial officer posts with JAG office 
			 
			 June 2001 Hungary 5 days Military law conference and to advise on UK military law 
			 September 2001 Copenhagen, Denmark 5 days To attend international conference on criminal and military law 
		
	
	Note:
	The Judge Advocate General also makes regular visits to his permanent office at Rheindahlen, Germany for official office purposes

Northern Ireland Court Service

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff in her Department work (a) whole-time and (b) for part of their time on matters related to the Northern Ireland Court Service.

Rosie Winterton: The number of staff employed by the Northern Ireland Court Service can be broken down as follows:
	Part-time staff: 97 (full-time equivalent—60)
	Full-time staff: 596
	Total staff: 693 1
	1 Figure excludes the number of staff on career break. Twenty-one staff on career break; total staff including career break staff—714.

Reporting Procedures

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what reporting procedures exist between the Public Guardianship Office and her own.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Guardianship Office is part of the Lord Chancellor's Department. He receives regular reports on the operational performance of the Public Guardianship Office (PGO), from the chief executive and is consulted by the chief executive on the handling of operational matters which could give rise to substantial public, parliamentary or judicial concern. The Head of Policy Group serves as a focal point to provide advice to Ministers and support the chief executive. He is also, in consultation as necessary, with the ministerial advisory board, responsible for advising Ministers and the Permanent Secretary on the PGO's strategic direction, plans, targets and performance. The ministerial advisory board (MAB), which meets quarterly, was set up to consider strategic issues relevant to the PGO and provide independent advice to Ministers on the strategic direction of the PGO, its governance and its performance, with particular reference to its key performance measures.

Reporting Procedures

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what reporting procedures exist between the Judge Advocate-General's Office and her own.

Rosie Winterton: There are no formal procedures in place between the office of the Judge Advocate General and the Lord Chancellor's Department.
	The Office of the Judge Advocate General is a judicial appointment made by Her Majesty the Queen under Letters Patent, and the work that his office carries out is judicial and quasi-judicial advisory post trial work for the Army and Royal Air Force, and is performed by the Judge Advocate General or by judicial officers appointed by the Lord Chancellor or by the Judge Advocate for that purpose. Since the functions of the Judge Advocate General and his judicial officers are judicial or quasi judicial, reporting is not constitutionally appropriate, although the Judge Advocate General is answerable to the Lord Chancellor in the same circumstances as all other judges within his jurisdiction.
	The budget and accounts of the Office of the Judge Advocate General are supervised by the Lord Chancellor's Department in the usual way. Sir Hayden Phillips, the Permanent Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department, is the accounting officer and is responsible to the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office for the propriety of public expenditure incurred by the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

Court Service

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training programmes are made available to junior administrative staff in the Court Service.

Michael Wills: The training programmes available to junior administrative staff in the Court Service are as follows:
	Business skills
	Customer service modules
	Delivering results
	Desk training
	Diversity awareness
	Induction
	IT
	Job specific selection for job holders
	Job specific selection for job holder's development
	Letter writing
	Local safety office
	National Vocational Qualifications
	Open learning
	Personal effectiveness
	Prince's Trust volunteers scheme
	Working with others.

Green Travel Plans

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans are in place for (a) judges, (b) the Court Service, (c) magistrates' courts, and (d) staff in the Department, deployed on (i) freedom of information and (ii) data protection and identity.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	(a) My Department has no green travel plans in place for judges; our green travel plans are specific to an individual site rather than to any particular group of court users.
	(b) The Court Service has a green travel plan in place at its headquarters building. The Department and its agencies aim to reduce their environmental impacts, such as emissions from vehicles and congestion, from transport use across all its activities. These include travel on business, operation of the car fleet and pool cars, contractors, deliveries and visitors.
	(c) My Department is not directly responsible for magistrates' court buildings as they are owned by local authorities. Information on green travel plans put in place at magistrates' courts by local authorities is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(d) My Department has no green travel plans in place for staff in the Department, as deployed on (i) freedom of information or (ii) data protection and identity. Our green travel plans are specific to individual buildings rather than to any particular group of staff.

Green Travel Plans

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans her Department has for (a) the Land Registry, (b) CAFCASS and (c) the Public Guardianship Office.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	(a) Of the 26 Land Registry offices, 13 have implemented site-specific green travel plans. The remaining 13 offices expect to implement plans before the end of this financial year. There are also Land Registry policies, covering all offices, providing interest-free advances of salary for the purchase of season tickets for travel to work using public transport and for staff wishing to purchase bicycles for travel to work.
	(b) Launched in April 2001, CAFCASS inherited staff with over 100 different terms and conditions. Travel policies for CAFCASS, including green travel plans, will be considered during the process of harmonisation of terms.
	(c) In line with departmental guidelines, the Public Guardianship Office (PGO) offers staff interest-free advances of salary for the purchase of season tickets and for staff wishing to purchase bicycles. To assist those staff travelling to work by bicycle, the PGO has installed a secure bicycle rack at Archway Tower together with shower and locker facilities. Details of public transport routes into Archway and the surrounding area are published on the PGO intranet.

Green Travel Plans

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans are in place for (a) the legal services ombudsman's office and (b) the Law Commission.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows.
	(a) The legal services ombudsman has less than 50 people and so does not meet the target criteria for having a green travel plan.
	(b) The Law Commission does not currently have a green travel plan. However, introduction of the Lord Chancellor's Department's green transport plan to its other offices, including the Law Commission, is under consideration.

Jury Intimidation

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what date she intends to produce (a) in draft and (b) in published form proposals to tackle intimidation of jurors.

Rosie Winterton: The Northern Ireland Court Service has lead responsibility in consultation with the police for drawing up a policy in relation to countering intimidation of jurors. Preparation of an intimidation policy will be completed by 31 March 2002 and published thereafter.

Human Rights

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the Government's policy is on establishing a Human Rights Commission in Britain.

Michael Wills: The Government have not ruled out the possibility of a Human Rights Commission, but we would have to be clear about the role and functions of such a commission and its relationship to the several existing equality commissions. One option is a single, over- arching human rights commission, with a federal structure, to cover all these areas, which requires consideration alongside other proposals.
	During the last Parliament, the Joint Committee on Human Rights issued a consultation document seeking views on what form a human rights commission might take. We will consider very carefully any recommendations the Joint Committee may make following this consultation.

Human Rights

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on monitoring the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998;
	(2)  what resources have been made available to monitor the effects on public authorities of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Michael Wills: We keep the impact of the Act under continuous review. My Department has a dedicated Human Rights Unit with legal support offering guidance and advice to Government Departments and public authorities, as well as to members of the public, about the Human Rights Act. However, this is not a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department alone, and the Government have made it clear that all Departments must play their part in delivering information and monitoring, including for their public authorities.
	Further details of my Department's activities in this area were contained in my recent memorandum to the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which my hon. Friend will have seen.

Children (Court Proceedings)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  under what statutory powers a court can prevent publication of the identity of children concerned in court proceedings by e-mail;
	(2)  if he will introduce proposals to improve the protection of the identities of children concerned in court proceedings, with particular reference to electronic communications;
	(3)  under what statutory powers a court can prevent publication of the identity of children concerned in court proceedings in messages on an electronic bulletin board system;
	(4)  under what powers courts can prevent publication of the identity of children concerned in court proceedings in messages on a web page.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Sections 39 and 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 restrict publication of the identity of under-18s involved in criminal court proceedings. They apply to print and broadcast media: we do not believe they cover electronic communications.
	We are due to implement further restrictions in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. We believe they will cover electronic communications which can be shown to be addressed to the public or a section of the public.

Coroners

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many coroners there are; and how many are women.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	There are 124 coroners in England and Wales, including 11 women.

Correspondence

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance his office has provided to Government Departments on dealing with hon. Members' correspondence.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	In July 2000, my Department published "Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament: Guidance for Departments", which set out the general principles which Departments should follow when replying to correspondence from hon. Members. In 2001, my Department also published "Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament: Good Practice Guidance" to promote the sharing of good practice between Departments and agencies and to help raise standards.
	Copies of both publications are available in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional security measures are planned by his Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

Denis MacShane: The FCO's fraud investigation team carry out a programme of visits to overseas posts and Departments in the UK to detect, deter and investigate fraud and financial malpractice. They also train staff in fraud awareness and issue anti-fraud guidance. Our internal auditors also follow a demanding schedule of audits both overseas and in the UK.
	The FCO have also introduced new schemes for beating fraud including "whistleblowing" guidance, additional self-audit packages and fraud/malpractice hotline details in pay-slips.

Departmental Secondments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave him on 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1130W.

Gibraltar

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the significance of Gibraltar as a UK trading partner.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 953W.

Liberia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Liberia, with specific regard to human rights abuses.

Denis MacShane: We are very concerned by the worsening conflict between Government forces and the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy dissidents, the resultant humanitarian crisis and the serious human rights situation. We are working hard to resolve instability in the Mano River sub-region and promote greater respect for human rights. We have called on the Presidents of Guinea and Liberia to stop supporting rebel groups which are destabilising each other's countries.
	We are concerned at reports of Liberian forces committing serious human rights abuses against civilians, in particular, internally displaced persons. There is an increasing flow of refugees into Sierra Leone. The EU opened Article 96 talks with Liberia in November 2001, demanding greater respect for human rights before resuming EU development funding. The UK and EU have called for legal investigations to be launched into all human rights abuses, more human rights training for security personnel and the creation of an independent human rights commission.
	We are continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to Liberia. Over the past 18 months we have contributed £1 million to the Consolidated Appeal for West Africa, some of which is allocated to Liberia. All of this assistance is channelled through NGOs, not the Government of Liberia.

HIV/AIDS

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision he is making to respond to the forthcoming request from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a report on the UK's implementation of the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights.

Peter Hain: The HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most serious threats to health in modern times. Globally, over 40 million people live with HIV/AIDS. Tackling this crisis, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, is a major priority for this Government.
	The Government fully support the UN's efforts to highlight the importance of the International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. We stand ready to contribute to the planned 2003 report to the UN Commission on Human Rights on implementation of the guidelines, once a request has been received.

FCO Telecommunications Network

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many embassies the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network hardware has been installed in each of the last six months; in how many he expects it to be installed in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network (FTN) provides two main services for our diplomatic missions overseas. One is connection to a telecommunications network; the second is the provision of a telephone system (PBX). Provision of these services entails installation of hardware at our missions. In each of the last six months FTN hardware has been installed as shown.
	
		
			 Month Telephone systems Network connections Total installations 
		
		
			 August 2001 5 4 9 
			 September 2001 5 12 17 
			 October 2001 9 8 17 
			 November 2001 8 5 13 
			 December 2001 7 17 24 
			 January 2002 7 9 16 
			  
			 Total 41 55 96 
		
	
	Work planned for the next six months should see FTN hardware installed as shown.
	
		
			 Month Telephone systems Network connections Total installations 
		
		
			 February 2002 7 13 20 
			 March 2002 7 18 25 
			 April 2002 4 18 22 
			 May 2002 10 20 30 
			 June 2002 9 11 20 
			 July 2002 4 10 14 
			  
			 Total 41 90 131

FCO Telecommunications Network

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place the contract for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network in the Library; and if he will make a statement

Denis MacShane: Under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information we are unable to deposit the document.

FCO Telecommunications Network

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the date upon which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network (FTN) provides two main services for our diplomatic missions overseas. One is connection to a telecommunications network; the second is the provision of a telephone system (PBX). These services are being provided under a 10-year PFI contract, signed in May 2000, at which time it was envisaged that the network would cover 136 missions by May 2002. The scope of the network has now increased to cover 210 missions, with work due for completion before the end of 2002. It will be 2004 before the target for PBX replacement is reached. In the interim period, reliable telephone connectivity between our missions and UK offices will be achieved by using a mix of new and legacy PBXs.

British Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if all British detainees in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Cuba have been allowed contact with family members in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: The International Committee of the Red Cross has access to detainees in both Afghanistan and in Guantanamo Bay, and is able to pass messages from family members to the detainees and vice versa.

Ian Stillman

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure the British high commission in New Delhi provides interpreter help for Ian Stillman; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for Mr. Stillman's lawyer to make the necessary application to the court for an interpreter. It is not the policy of the FCO to provide, from official funds, interpreters, or signers for the deaf, for individuals in court cases abroad.

Ian Stillman

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consular visits there have been to Ian Stillman since he lost his appeal.

Ben Bradshaw: No consular visits have taken place since the appeal judgment was announced on 11 January. The last consular visit was due to take place on 19 December but Mr. Stillman was in Shimla receiving dental treatment. The next consular visit is due on 19 March.
	Consular visits to British nationals in jail in India normally take place on a quarterly basis.

Private Military Companies

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the proposed Green Paper on private military companies outlining options for the control of private military companies; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We have today published a consultation document entitled: "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation".
	This paper originates in a request made by the Foreign Affairs Committee in its second report on Sierra Leone. I regret very much that the Government did not meet the timetable originally promised for this document.
	Over the years the House has concerned itself from time to time with the activities of freelance mercenary soldiers. There were a number of disturbing and sometimes disgraceful incidents in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s. These gave rise to justifiable indignation and a strong wish to curb this unsavoury business.
	The situation has changed since the 1970s. Africa's problems are different and so also is the nature of outside intervention. In some cases at least it is companies more than individuals who have been at issue there recently.
	The term "private military companies" covers many different sorts of organisation. Some are respectable and well-established names; some are transient and not always reputable companies. Public attention has focused most sharply on companies who have provided soldiers ready to take part in combat. There are many different opinions—some of them strongly held about such activities, an issue which is explored in the paper.
	These sort of activities attract attention and controversy but they are neither the most numerous, nor necessarily the most important part of the private military sector. A growing number of companies who would not take part directly in combat nevertheless provide important military services such as training, planning, logistics, weapons procurement and intelligence. In today's world such services can be significant force multipliers and may have a considerable impact on fighting capability. It is timely that we should consider this growing industry and look at the question of whether some form of regulation would be appropriate.
	Mercenary activity is an old phenomenon but a corporate sector providing military services is relatively new. Given the professionalism and high reputation of Britain's armed services it is not surprising that this is an area in which British companies are active. The idea of regulating this sector is also relatively new. It raises many difficult legal and practical issues. There are many different interests and points of view of which we should take account. We therefore wish to embark on a wide process of consultation before formulating a policy. Against this background the paper outlines the issues, the recent history and the current debate, and finally sets out some of the options for regulation—but does not make any specific proposals. Before doing that I would like to hear the views of those directly concerned and indeed of all interested parties.
	This is a serious subject which merits careful examination. The private military sector is a growing phenomenon which could develop in a helpful or an unhelpful way. I shall be surprised if we emerge from the debate with the conclusion that the best solution is to do nothing at all.
	I look forward to receiving contributions to the debate from Members of this House and elsewhere—and I will welcome views from the widest range of sources. I hope that in due course, as the discussion develops this House will also provide time for a full and open debate.

DEFENCE

Trident

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical programme his Department conducts to assure the safety and serviceability of the Trident warhead; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Government attach great importance to maintaining the safety and serviceability of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons. The Strategic Defence Review in 1998 confirmed the need for a robust capability to underwrite the safety and reliability of Trident, in the absence of nuclear testing. A scientific methodology is being developed to continue to give this assurance with high confidence. A detailed technical review of the scientific methodology behind this programme will be published shortly in a major scientific journal.
	To ensure that we continue to be confident of the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons, it is essential to understand the properties of warhead materials such as high explosive and plutonium under a very wide range of physical conditions, and how these properties change with age. Confidence in the safety and performance of Trident is based ultimately on predictions from high fidelity numerical models run on super computers. The Atomic Weapons Establishment has recently announced a major investment in a new super computer that will substantially upgrade its capability. However, experimental studies are still essential to validate the computational models and improve understanding of basic theory. As a continuing part of this programme the UK will shortly collaborate with the US in conducting a plutonium hydrodynamic experiment at the U1A facility in Nevada. This experiment will not produce nuclear yield and will be fully consistent with our obligations under the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. Historical nuclear test data and information from the forensic examination of warheads withdrawn from the stockpile provide further information for the process.

A400M

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to his German counterpart about the German Parliament's approval of the A400M Project.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 January 2002, Official Report, columns 215–16W. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence raised the A400M project with his German counterpart when they met on 18 January and since then, during a telephone exchange when he again expressed the hope that the issue could be resolved quickly.

NATO Budget

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list common budget contributions by NATO members to the three NATO budgets in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002; and if he will indicate the provisional projections for future years.

Geoff Hoon: Budget ceilings for NATO's three budgets were set as follows:
	
		
			  Security investment programme (million of NAU)(4) Military budget (million of NAU)(5) Military budget (million of NAU)(6) Civil budget (million of Belgian francs) 
		
		
			 1997 183.5 176.3 — 5,721 
			 1998 183.5 178.9 — 5,847 
			 1999 183.5 188.7 — 5,996 
			 2000 183.5 188.8 15.6 6,080 
			 2001 185.0 191.6 17.7 6,253 
			 2002 185.0 192.8 16.8 (7)euro 166.9 million 
		
	
	(4) The value of NATO Accounting Units has varied from £2.680 in January 1997 to £2.122 in January 2002.
	(5) These figures include an account supporting NATO's Airborne Early Warning Force to which the UK does not contribute. Our contribution to this force is made in kind, by the assignment to SACEUR of the RAF's E3D Sentry aircraft.
	(6) Post-Kosovo, a separate military budget account to cover Balkans operations was established.
	(7) For 2002, the civil budget was set in euros—euro 161.4 million, plus euro 5.5 million for additional security enhancements at NATO HQ required after 11 September 2001.
	Ceilings for 2003 have still to be settled, but we would expect them to be of the same order as those for 2002.

NATO Budget

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts regarding NATO member contributions to the 2002 NATO budgets; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I have had no discussions with NATO Defence Ministers on contributions to the three NATO budgets for 2002. The 2002 budget ceilings for the NATO Security Investment Programme and the Military Budget were noted during the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting on 7 June 2001, when the UK was represented by our Permanent Representative. NATO's Civil Budget is a matter for the Foreign Secretary.

IT

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been (a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a).

Lewis Moonie: Total expenditure by the Ministry of Defence on IT systems and support, including hardware and software, furniture, ancillary equipment and licence fees has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 506.688 
			 1998–99 554.750 
			 1999–2000 509.406 
			 2000–01 478.663 
			 2001–02 (8)379.966 
		
	
	(8) Covering period April 2001 to January 2002
	The additional information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am therefore unable to provide a substantive answer on that element in accordance with Exemption 9 (voluminous and vexatious requests) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Submarine Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 337W, on submarine officers, what the specific disciplines necessary to conduct a warfare officer's first appointment are; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Before taking up their first appointment as a warfare officer in a submarine, officers will have completed common training with their surface flotilla counterparts in naval general training, which includes navigational instruction. Thereafter, those selected will receive four months shore training in nuclear physics and engineering pertinent to the type of nuclear reactor fitted to the class of submarine to which they are being appointed. They will also receive training in submarine warfare and general engineering systems.
	On completion of this shore training, all warfare officers will join their first submarine in a training billet where they will spend the next 12–18 months receiving comprehensive training in all aspects of the individual submarine's systems, standard operating procedures, and emergency operating procedures. At every step they undertake practical and oral examination boards, chaired by the commanding officer, to ensure that they have achieved an appropriate standard of training and expertise. This entitles them to be awarded their submarine badge.
	Having been awarded their submarine badge, and having had a further period of consolidation on board a submarine, warfare officers will complete six months further shore training. Once this is completed, they become qualified to pilot a submarine on the surface and navigate the boat while submerged close inshore.

Submarine Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 337W, on submarine officers, what the maximum length of time allowed is between a naval officer having a physical assessment and joining a ship; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 337W, on submarine officers, what tests a submarine officer undergoes in the physical assessment conducted before joining a vessel; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what tests a naval officer undergoes in the physical assessment conducted before joining a vessel; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment was made of the physical ability of Lieutenant Ashley Philpott and Lieutenant Ian Tabberer before joining HMS Triumph; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All naval personnel are medically screened when they enter the service. The medical examination on entry is valid until an individual reaches the age of 30. After this, five yearly medical examinations are carried out as a matter of routine to age 50. Thereafter, medical examinations are undertaken at two yearly intervals. the normal medical category for an officer is P2—fit for worldwide service. This category is common for all Royal Naval personnel, including submariner officers. Service medical examinations assess an individual's physical condition (upper and lower body), hearing, eyesight, mental capacity and emotional stability.
	There is no formal requirement for personnel to undergo a physical assessment at the time they are notified of their re-appointment or when they join a new unit. However, medical documents are reviewed on these occasions and a medical examination is carried out if an assessment is not 'in date', or if personnel are being appointed to the submarine service for the first time. All submariners are required to qualify for service in submarines by undertaking submarine escape tank training (SETT) and to remain qualified by undergoing SETT at intervals of between three and four and a half years. Personnel must be in medical category P2 to attend SETT and are required to undergo a medical re-examination as part of their training. Many submariners undertake SETT at lesser intervals.
	The maximum length of time between a service officer having a medical examination and joining a ship will vary depending on personal circumstances and the length of training patters and sea/shore appointments, but for submarine officers, this would be up to three to four and a half years. However, a range of other medical assessments such as classified radiation worker medicals, hearing tests etc. are also periodically carried out depending on the specific nature of an individual's employment. Furthermore, naval personnel receive a full range of primary medical care through the Royal Navy Medical Service. This includes treatments as well as provisions such as vaccinations and well man or woman clinics. Where a medical condition becomes apparent during a primary health care visit, an individual's medical status, including their fitness for sea service, is reviewed as a matter of routine.
	Although it is inappropriate to comment on individuals, naval personnel are required to be medically fit for their duties before and during appointment to any unit, including submarines. It is incumbent on all personnel to bring to the attention of the appropriate authorities, at any time, any material factor including those of a medical nature, that may affect their ability to carry out their duties.
	In situations where an individual's medical condition has changed sufficiently to warrant medical downgrading or recategorisation, one of the factors that is taken into consideration is whether they are able to continue with their present duties in their current unit. This applies particularly to submariners given the environmental conditions that are peculiar to submarines and their limited medical facilities.

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received about the (a) suitability and (b) condition of MOD married quarters each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The number of complaints received by Defence Housing Executive about the condition of properties is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Complaints 
		
		
			 April 1998 to March 1999 92 
			 April 1999 to March 2000 77 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 50 
			 April 2001 to September 2001 28 
		
	
	Figures for 1997–98 are not available.
	Separate records of complaints about suitability are not held centrally and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Suitable accommodation for entitled service personnel is defined by type. There are five property types for officers and three types for other ranks. In general, rank and appointment determines the property type allocated to officers and family size determines the type for other ranks. There are special standards for high cost areas such as London. Joint service property scales lay down specifications for every property type, and a four-tier grading system is used to determine level of charges in properties which do not fully comply with the specifications.

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for (a) serious neglect and (b) vandalism against MOD houses have been made in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Housing Executive, which manages service families' accommodation in Great Britain, has no formal record of the number of complaints made about serious neglect or vandalism. The incidence of vandalism is low on occupied estates and is dealt with as and when it arises. Unoccupied estates, awaiting disposal or upgrade, are kept as secure as is practicable. Local or Ministry of Defence police patrol sites, where this is considered necessary.

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent upgrading MOD married quarters in each constituency since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: A breakdown of upgrade expenditure by constituency is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a total of £95.7 million has been spent on the upgrade of service families housing in England, Scotland and Wales since 1997. This can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 12.4 
			 1998–99 13.6 
			 1999–2000 27.8 
			 2000–01 41.9 
		
	
	These figures do not include new builds, demolition/ rebuild or PFI projects.

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who manages MOD housing in each constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Services families' accommodation in Great Britain is managed by the Defence Housing Executive (DHE). The DHE was set up in 1995, bringing the three services' housing functions into a single management unit.
	Services families' accommodation in Northern Ireland is managed by the Families' Housing Service responsible to the GOC Northern Ireland.

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on private sector housing for service personnel in the last 12 months, broken down by constituency; and if he will make statement.

Lewis Moonie: The table shows the expenditure on substitute accommodation in Great Britain rented by the Ministry of Defence from the private sector when accommodation according to entitlement could not otherwise be provided for service personnel and their families. Figures relate to the period 1 January to 31 December 2001. A breakdown by constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		£000 
		
			  Family accommodation Single accommodation 
		
		
			 Rent 9,361 22,304 
			 Fees 212 1,272 
			 Council tax, utilities, telephone line rental, etc. 933 3,432 
			  
			 Total 10,506 27,008

Service Accommodation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are seeking married quarters accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) is required to provide, on request, family accommodation for entitled service personnel within 10 miles of their duty station and by their required date. In general, houses are kept waiting for service families, rather than service families kept waiting for housing. During 2000–01, over 97 per cent. of entitled service families were housed within 28 days of their required date (against a target of 92 per cent.) and a similar achievement is expected for 2001–02.
	When DHE accommodation is unavailable, substitute service families accommodation (SSFA) is provided, by DHE, from the private rental market.

Alvis 4 Mamba Vehicles

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made to replace the Army's fleet of Alvis 4 Mamba vehicles.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 858W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Northern Ireland

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the cost to the defence budget of the emergency deployment to Northern Ireland in each financial year since 1991–92.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 348W, to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws).

Northern Ireland

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many forces personnel have been committed overseas in each month since January 2000; and where.

Adam Ingram: The numbers of UK regular forces located overseas since January 2000 are given in the table. These figures are published twice yearly in TSP6 "Global Deployment of Service Personnel", which is held in the Library of the House.
	
		Location of UK regular forces overseas 1 January 2000—1 December 2001
		
			  2000  
			  1 Jan.  1 Feb.  1 March 1 April 1 May 1 June 1 July 1 Aug.  1 Sept.  1 Oct.  1 Nov.  1 Dec.  
		
		
			 Total overseas 39,888 40,841 40,641 42,708 42,855 43,082 42,922 41,389 44,704 44,931 44,173 43,754 
			 Europe 29,318 29,866 29,076 28,818 28,386 26,946 25,332 25,416 25,740 25,301 26,969 26,961 
			 Cyprus 3,610 3,590 3,566 3,631 3,604 3,525 3,514 3,626 3,641 3,687 3,705 3,686 
			 Gibraltar 413 429 473 457 407 396 412 418 424 429 427 407 
			 Other Mediterranean, near east and Gulf 1,457 1,449 1,296 1,502 1,615 1,606 1,074 1,011 995 966 1,531 1,537 
			 Far East 295 297 300 297 279 292 938 926 904 890 289 338 
			 Other locations 4,795 5,210 5,930 8,003 8,564 10,317 11,652 9,992 13,000 13,658 11,252 10,825 
		
	
	
		
			  2001  
			  1 Jan. 1 Feb. 1 March 1 April 1 May 1 June 1 July 1 Aug. 1 Sept. 1 Oct. 1 Nov. 1 Dec. 
		
		
			 Total overseas 37,658 39,378 39,378 38,898 37,829 38,695 40,922 40,958 43,562 47,020 44,292 43,044 
			 Europe 24,047 24,290 23,275 22,948 22,520 21,811 21,013 21,593 20,739 19,600 20,335 23,924 
			 Cyprus 3,455 3,565 3,429 3,659 3,653 3,516 3,491 3,625 3,150 3,708 3,560 3,566 
			 Gibraltar 452 474 584 485 463 473 464 462 401 434 408 414 
			 Other Mediterranean, near east and Gulf 1,382 1,522 1,694 1,553 1,347 1,576 2,274 2,538 3,801 9,520 8,804 4,388 
			 Far East 308 325 276 273 266 262 280 279 280 275 278 283 
			 Other locations 8,014 9,202 10,120 9,980 9,680 11,057 13,400 12,461 15,191 13,483 10,907 10,469

Chinook Inquiry

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take as a result of the House of Lords Committee inquiry into the Chinook helicopter crash in 1994.

Adam Ingram: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 856, this is a complex issue. We are now studying the report in detail, and will make a full response in due course.

Former Service Personnel

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to ensure that service personnel are equipped to cope with civilian life when they leave the services.

Adam Ingram: Resettlement and career transition services for those leaving the regular armed forces are core elements of my Department's Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy (AFOPS). The range of services that currently exist to assist service personnel with the process of re-entering civilian life includes housing and finance briefings, workshops, seminars, relevant training and assistance in job-finding. The range of activities and the amount of time available to individuals to undertake them depends on the length of time spent in the regular armed forces. The most comprehensive service is available to those with at least five years 'reckonable' service, although those who are medically discharged at any time after the completion of basic training are also eligible for the full service. These services are currently provided in the form of a partnership between my Department and the Coutts Consulting Group, and are known as the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). A job-finding service is offered for those who have at least three years of reckonable service. A lesser level of support is available to those who have served less than three years in the armed forces, and who are not therefore eligible for the CTP. The CTP commenced operations on 12 October 1998, and has its own dedicated website, www.ctp.org.uk.
	A Veterans Advice Unit also exists and provides a single point of contact for ex-service personnel seeking advice on where to obtain expert help on individual issues.

Freefall Bombs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of gravity bombs made in the UK were for (a) war stock and (b) the longer term in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 2000–01.

Lewis Moonie: In 1998–99 and 2000–01 no freefall bombs, sometimes referred to as "gravity bombs", were manufactured to supplement war reserve stock. In the same periods, purchases were made to support training, and for development purposes. Of these, less than 3 per cent. restricted to non-explosive practice bombs, were manufactured outside the United Kingdom.

Departmental Expenditure (Publications)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 21W, on departmental expenditure, if he will make a statement about the increase in his departmental expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications since 1997–98.

Lewis Moonie: Procurement of newspapers, magazines and periodicals is not managed centrally. Instead it is cascaded to budget holders. Therefore the reason for and decision to procure is left to budget holders with the requirement that such purchases should be properly scrutinised, accounted for and undertaken in the most cost-effective manner.
	The 2000–01 outturn is atypical. Expenditure in 2001–02 is currently expected to be £7.5 million, which is very much in line with 1999–2000 outturn. But, given varying requirements, some fluctuation in this area of expenditure from year to year is to be expected as can be seen from patterns of previous expenditure.

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 2002, Official Report, column 599W, if he will specify the appropriate guidance to the UK forces operating in Afghanistan to ensure compliance with the UK's international legal obligations; and if prisoners captured in Afghanistan by UK forces will be accorded prisoner of war status under the Geneva Convention.

Geoff Hoon: I am withholding the specific details of the guidance referred to, in accordance with Exemption (1a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Whether any detainee is a prisoner of war depends on the facts of each individual case. It is for the Detaining Power in the first instance to take a view.

Afghanistan

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what progress has been made in securing commitment from the Turkish Government to take over the UK-led ISAF command in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what other countries have offered to take over the UK-led ISAF command in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: We are working closely with Turkey and a number of other countries on the handing over of the command of the International Security Assistance Force.

Royal Ordnance

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the partnering agreement between the MOD and Royal Ordnance; and if it is his policy to guarantee indigenous supply of ammunition.

Lewis Moonie: The Framework Partnering Agreement between BAE Systems RO Defence and the Ministry of Defence was signed in December 1999 and has been running successfully for two years. During this period both sides have met their commitments. The policy relating to the supply of ammunition ensures that the ammunition is safe and suitable for use, and provides both value for money and security of supply.

Royal Ordnance

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with BAE Systems concerning the closure of ROF Birtley.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has held no direct discussions with BAE Systems on the future of the RO Defence (ROD) site at Birtley. The MOD is aware that ROD is conducting a review of its manufacturing strategy and this review includes the options for the Birtley site. It is expected that the outcome of this review will be announced at the end of February 2002.

Royal Ordnance

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on Royal Ordnance's policy relating to the TACAS project and the supply of hardware from indigenous bases.

Lewis Moonie: I am not aware of any representations being made to the Ministry of Defence on Royal Ordnance's policy relating to the Tubed Artillery Conventional Ammunition System (TACAS) project. The TACAS project has only just entered the assessment phase. RO Defence, as the assessment phase prime contractor, is reviewing possible solutions, from a worldwide range of sources, to meet the TACAS requirement. On current plans, a decision on the way forward is not expected to be made until autumn 2004.

Ammunition Supplies

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the MOD's ammunition supplies over the next five years will be sourced from overseas (a) directly and (b) indirectly from a UK supplier.

Lewis Moonie: The complete information requested on future supplies is not available. Many ammunition requirements have either not yet been tendered, are currently subject to tender evaluation and/or have not been placed to contract.
	During the past year, the proportion of the Ministry of Defence's ammunition supplies obtained directly from overseas was approximately 8 per cent. by value. The remaining 92 per cent. was sourced from UK suppliers, largely Royal Ordnance. Data on ammunition supplies sourced from overseas via a UK supplier is not readily available.

Computer Hacking

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The Ministry of Defence, in common with any organisation that is connected to the internet, is subject to widespread and frequent attempts to probe its electronic boundaries. There is no evidence of any successful incursion from an external source to any Departmental computer system.
	During 2001, 12 incidents of computer hacking were reported, of which two were website defacements and 10 were internal incursions. None of these had any impact on the conduct of military operations or other core Defence business.

Pakistan Ordnance Factories

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK-based training was provided by Royal Ordnance for engineers and staff of Pakistan Ordnance Factories in relation to munitions and weapons manufactured by POF under licensed production deals agreed with Royal Ordnance prior to 1987.

Lewis Moonie: In the 1970s, prior to the privatisation of the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF), assistance was provided to the Pakistan Ordnance Factories by ROF. This assistance was related to technology transfer and training for the manufacturing of the 105 mm L64 Tungsten core Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot tank ammunition. The Ministry of Defence is continuing to ascertain the exact amount of training provided under these arrangements.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Lewis Moonie: Reported cases of stolen equipment are held centrally on a summary basis only and relate to suspected theft by Crown Personnel and contractors of stores and equipment usually recorded, especially in respect of lower value items, as multiples or combinations of items such as tools, items of clothing, foodstuffs etc. The Ministry of Defence does not keep fully detailed records of individual or non-aggregated items valued at less than £50 proven to have been stolen or recorded as lost. The information requested therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tritium

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made to obtain tritium supplies in the event that tritium production is halted in the UK.

Lewis Moonie: The UK has sufficient stocks of tritium to meet the needs of the Trident programme for the foreseeable future.

HMS St. Albans

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS St. Albans will enter service in September.

Lewis Moonie: HMS St. Albans is planned to enter service in September, on completion of her current weapon equipment set-to-work and trials programmes.

Military Demonstration (Copehill Down)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of the demonstration of military capability given to the Afghan Government's Ministers at Copehill Down on 1 February.

Geoff Hoon: General Fahim Khan and a team from the Afghan Interim Administration visited the United Kingdom between 29 January and 3 February for discussions with the United Kingdom Government. They also paid visits to a number of units of the British Army.
	The demonstration they witnessed was of a company attack in an urban environment, represented by a mock-up of a village in Copehill down training area. The attack consisted of indirect fire using battlefield simulation, sustained small arms and main armament engagements supported by tanks, from the edge of, and in, Copehill Down village. The demonstration lasted approximately thirty minutes. The Afghan visitors then had the opportunity to meet the troops involved and view their equipment.

Procurement

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on agreements reached at the UK/French Government's industry conference on defence procurement.

Lewis Moonie: At the France/UK Government and Industry Conference held on 29 January, the French and UK Ministries of Defence agreed to examine practical measures to improve access to each others' markets. These include: exchanging data on small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs); holding another conference addressed specifically at SMEs; exploring the potential to conduct international co-operative PFI projects; and assessing the extent of defence trade between the UK and France.

War Pensions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many war pensions were granted by the War Pensions Agency to armed forces personnel last year.

Lewis Moonie: A claim for war disablement pension may only be made after discharge from the armed forces.
	The total number of war pensions granted by the War Pensions Agency from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 was 7,209.

Service Pay

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rates of annual pay are for (a) a private in the Army and (b) a marine in the Royal Marines (i) at commencement of basic training and (ii) once basic training has been completed, at age (A) 17, (B) 18, (C) 19, (D) 20 and (E) 21 years.

Adam Ingram: All adult private soldiers and marines (aged 17 and above) who enter the Army or Royal Marines receive an annual pay rate of £10,344.10, irrespective of age. On completion of appropriate training (basic/trade) or, in the case of Army recruits, after 26 weeks if this is sooner, they move on to the next pay rate which is £12,070.55 per annum. The pay rates quoted are for the current year 2001–02.

Human Rights Cases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the legal cases brought against his Department and the armed forces since 1997 citing (a) the European Convention of Human Rights and (b) the Human Rights Act 1998, stating in each case (i) whether the case was found for the plaintiff or for his Department, or settled out of court, (ii) the net cost to his Department of fighting the case, including of any damages paid, (iii) action taken to, pursuant similar cases being brought in the future and (iv) the cost of that action.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The Ministry of Defence does not record separately those cases brought against the Department raising issues under the European Convention of Human Rights or the Human Rights Act 1998. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Civilian Contractors (Gulf)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his response to the recommendation in paragraph 92 of the seventh report of the Defence Committee, session 1999–2000, concerning civilian contractors who served in the Gulf; whether he intends to make provision to compensate Paul Connolly; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 February 2002
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of those members of the armed forces pension scheme who retired between 1975 and 1977, how many (a) survive and (b) are survived by a widow or widower to whom a pension is paid.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 February 2002
	This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the armed forces pension scheme (a) for existing service personnel and (b) for those who have already left the services of paying full half pensions to surviving widows or widowers for the whole of their remaining lives notwithstanding re-marriage.

Lewis Moonie: This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army service personnel have been granted war disablement pensions since the earliest date for which he recently examined the records.

Lewis Moonie: A claim for war disablement pension may be made only after discharge from the armed forces. The War Pensions Agency is responsible for administration of the War Pensions Scheme.
	Information on war disablement pensions in payment to former members of each service is not available. However, as at 31 December 2001 a total of 223,000 war disablement pensions were in payment.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 857W, on service pensions, if he will make a statement on the findings of his inquiries when they are completed.

Lewis Moonie: I will provide the hon. Member with further advice first when we have completed our work to try to clarify precisely when the problem arose and then later when we have a clearer idea of the numbers of service personnel affected.
	Work to try to establish the start-point for the error should be completed in a few weeks. Establishing the numbers affected is expected to take significantly longer. The publicity given to the problem has already generated a considerable number of inquiries and we will deal with these as quickly as possible.

Organophosphate Pesticides

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the international studies of the effect of exposure to organophosphate pesticides, with particular reference to their use in the Gulf War, which are under review in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

ASRAAM Project

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the ASRAAM Project.

Lewis Moonie: The Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile entered service at the end of January 2002, with the delivery of the first batch of missiles.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Minimum Voting Age

Bob Spink: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick- upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will make a statement on the Commission's plans for changing the minimum age of voting.

Alan Beith: I understand from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission that the Commission has no such plans but does intend to look in due course at the minimum voting age as part of its review programme of electoral law and practice. Any change would require legislation.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last four years giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each.

Kim Howells: This information is not held centrally. The costs of collating it would be disproportionate.

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what legal costs have been incurred by her Department in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The legal costs incurred by the Department for the years in question are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99(9) 550,018 
			 1999–2000(9) 587,418 
			 2000–01(9) 998,901 
			 2001–02(10) 783,043 
		
	
	(9) Outturn
	(10) To date

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by her Department and how much reclaimed.

Kim Howells: The Department's total expenditure on hospitality is shown in the table. The figures exclude the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The information requested on food and alcohol is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 17,230 
			 1998–99 28,688 
			 1999–2000 32,533 
			 2000–01 50,891 
			 2001–02 spend to date 24,311

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if she will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if she will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case.

Kim Howells: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the publications issued by her Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Kim Howells: Information on the cost and circulation of each document could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. I have, however, included the overall yearly figures spent on publications during the period.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 288,100 
			 1999–2000 448,238 
			 2000–01 448,140 
			 2001–02 (11)170,664 
		
	
	(11) To date
	DCMS publications 1998–99
	The Eyre Review
	Export of Works of Art 1997–98
	Response to the Select Committee on the Multimedia Revolution
	Creative Industries Mapping Document
	Departmental Annual Report 1998
	Common Wealth and Museums Report
	Digital Convergence Green Paper
	Portable Antiquities Annual Report
	Building a Global Audience
	Government Response to the LIC Report
	DCMS/Wolfson Fund Annual Report 1997–98
	Children's Play Leaflet
	National Lottery Information Leaflet
	New Opportunities Fund Consultation Document
	Interfaith Millennium Leaflet Reprint
	Museums in the Learning Age
	Sustainable Tourism Document
	Tomorrow's Tourism Strategy Report
	DCMS publications 1999–2000
	Government Art Collection Leaflet
	Export of Works of Art
	Government Art Collection Conditions of Loan Booklet
	Portable Antiquities Annual Report
	World Heritage Sites
	Treasure Annual Report
	Finding Our Past Leaflet
	Building a Global Audience
	The Future Funding of the BBC
	Review of the BBC's Financial Projections
	Creative Industries—Report on the Creative Industries Finance Conference
	Creative Industries—Exports: Our Hidden Potential
	Creative Industries—Internet Inquiry: Snapshot of a rolling wave
	Creative Industries—Your Creative Future
	Creative Industries—UK Television Exports Inquiry
	Annual Report 2000
	Local Cultural Strategies
	PAT 10—Policy Action Team 10: Report to the Social Exclusion Unit
	A Sporting Future For All
	Libraries for All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries
	The White Book—Option Appraisal of Expenditure Decision: A Guide for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its Sponsored Bodies
	Consumers Call the Tune—The Impact of New Technologies on the Music Industry
	Report on the DCMS/Wolfson Fund 1998–99
	Libraries and the Regions—A discussion paper
	Appraisal of Annual Library Plans 1999
	British Library Review
	Regional Consortium Leaflet
	Efficiency and Effectiveness of Government-sponsored Museums and Galleries
	Report of the Tourism Consumer Group
	Guidance on Disposals of Historic Buildings
	DCMS publications 2000–01
	Treasure Annual Report
	Vacant Plinth Advisory Panel Report
	Broadcasting Command Paper
	Review of the Transparency of the BBC
	Creative Industries Finance Booklet
	DCMS Annual Report 1999–2000
	Learning Power of Museums
	Government Art Collection—Conditions of Loan Booklet
	Public Appointments Guidance
	Tax Relief for Charities Booklet
	Music Industry Report
	Library Standards Report
	Coalfields and the Lottery Report
	Museums Education Report
	Museums Social Inclusion Report
	New Opportunities Fund Consultation Paper
	Better Public Buildings
	A Sporting Future for All
	Tourism Summit Leaflet
	Creative Industries Mapping Document 2001
	DCMS Recruitment Booklet
	The Government's Plan for Sport
	Culture and Creativity
	Local Cultural Strategies
	Music Industries Document: Consumers Call the Tune
	Marching Into the Millennium
	DCMS publications 2001–02
	Portable Antiquities Annual Report
	A Vision for Culture On line
	London Open House leaflet
	Banking On A Hit Report
	Cricket Disorder Report
	Operation of the National Lottery—Select Committee Response
	Staging International Sports Events—Select Committee Response
	Tourism—the Hidden Giant and Foot and Mouth—Select Committee Response
	Summer Supplementary Estimates
	Lottery Achievements—The First Seven Years
	A Force for Our Future—The Government Statement on the Historic Environment
	Library and Information Matters—Report
	DCMS Publicity Guidelines
	DCMS Event Guidelines
	Report of the Gambling Review Body
	Digital TV—Information for Landlords
	CIEPAG—Achievements leaflet
	Media Ownership Rules Consultation paper
	Winter Supplementary Estimates
	Viewers Panel Report
	English National Stadium Review
	Public Appointments registration form
	Public Reappointments booklet
	DCMS Recruitment literature reprint
	Audio Visual Industries Training Group Report
	Honours Guidance Binder
	Equal Opportunities Document Reprint
	DCMS Identity Guidelines
	Communications White Paper—Select Committee Response
	Biennial Conservation Report
	Creative Industries Finance Conference Report.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The costs of external accountancy services for the Department for the years in question is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 115,298 
			 1999–2000 115,309 
			 2000–01 172,025 
			 2001–02(12) 140,540 
		
	
	(12) Spend to date

Mobile Telephones

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list, for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) her Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff.

Kim Howells: This information cannot be provided save at disproportionate cost. My Department spent £500 on mobile telephone equipment in 2000–01 and £28,000 on mobile calls and line rental in the same period. Expenditure in previous years was at the same level.

Mobile Libraries

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the number of mobile libraries.

Kim Howells: Mobile library provision, as with branch libraries, is a matter for library authorities in line with their duty to provide comprehensive and efficient services within the terms of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

Child Protection (Sport)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial assistance is provided to national governing bodies of sport to draw up and implement child protection policies; and what plans she has to provide further assistance.

Kim Howells: The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) was established in 2000 and is a three-year joint venture between Sport England (funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and the NSPCC. Each are contributing £300,000 towards the unit, which provides a wide range of services to governing bodies including training, consultancy, information and guidance, and case-specific support. In addition, Sportscoach UK makes a significant contribution to governing bodies in the child protection area through coaching and its education programme, and Sport England have identified two staff to work closely with the CPSU on child protection work. It is worth noting too that the Criminal Records Bureau, which was set up partly in response to the Protection of Children Act 1999 in England and Wales, will help governing bodies with their child protection policies.

Regional Arts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the spending by regional arts boards was, per capita of population served, in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The table collated by the Arts Council of England provides the figures requested by the hon. Member.
	
		
			 ALL RABs EEA EMA LA NA NWA 
		
		
			 1995–96 Direct arts spend 4,406,276 4,116,211 12,474,394 6,496,922 7,971,107 
			 Mid-95 Population 5,257,300 4,036,100 7,007,100 3,095,200 6,497,600 
			 1995–96 Spend per head (£) 0.84 1.02 1.78 2.10 1.23 
			 1996–97 Direct arts spend 4,499,474 4,131,044 13,075,294 7,113,607 8,321,574 
			 Mid-96 Population 5,292,800 4,053,100 7,074,200 3,091,300 6,489,000 
			 1996–97 Spend per head (£) 0.85 1.02 1.85 2.30 1.28 
			 1997–98 Direct arts spend 4,615,052 4,145,321 12,724,078 6,700,651 9,751,399 
			 Mid-97 Population 5,334,500 4,068,200 7,122,100 3,086,800 6,481,400 
			 1997–98 Spend per head (£) 0.87 1.02 1.79 2.17 1.50 
			 1998–99 Direct arts spend 4,282,894 4,242,899 12,843,375 7,113,607 8,530,042 
			 Mid-98 Population 5,377,000 4,080,700 7,187,400 3,082,600 6,486,500 
			 1998–99 Spend per head (£) 0.80 1.04 1.79 2.31 1.32 
			 1999–2000 Direct arts spend 4,666,124 5,331,877 13,686,076 8,100,981 9,860,501 
			 Mid-99 Population 5,418,900 4,101,800 7,284,900 3,073,300 6,478,100 
			 1999–2000 Spend per head (£) 0.86 1.30 1.88 2.64 1.52 
			 2000–01 Direct arts spend 5,349,901 7,399,162 25,996,282 11,557,019 18,500,627 
			 Mid-2000 Population 5,459,700 4,118,000 7,375,100 3,068,200 6,493,200 
			 2000–01 Spend per head (£) 0.98 1.80 3.52 3.77 2.85 
			 2001–02 Direct arts spend 8,397,333 8,731,487 30,140,051 11,947,163 17,711,128 
			 Mid-2000 Population 5,459,700 4,118,000 7,375,100 3,068,200 6,493,200 
			 2001–02 Spend per head (£) 1.54 2.12 4.09 3.89 2.73 
		
	
	
		
			 All RABs SA SEA SWA WMA YA 
		
		
			 1995–96 Direct arts spend 3,434,829 2,527,027 3,999,425 5,498,493 6,600,651 
			 Mid-95 Population 4,722,800 4,057,800 3,893,600 5,306,500 5,029,400 
			 1995–96 Spend per head (£) 0.73 0.62 1.03 1.04 1.31 
			 1996–97 Direct arts spend 3,409,478 2,548,760 3,918,246 5,305,054 6,543,122 
			 Mid-96 Population 4,755,000 4,076,800 3,904,700 5,316,600 5,035,400 
			 1996–97 Spend per head (£) 0.72 0.63 1.00 1.00 1.30 
			 1997–98 Direct arts spend 3,351,454 2,599,726 4,161,363 5,599,932 6,541,524 
			 Mid-97 Population 4,793,900 4,110,600 3,930,400 5,320,800 5,037,000 
			 1997–98 Spend per head (£) 0.70 0.63 1.06 1.05 1.30 
			 1998–99 Direct arts spend 3,865,165 2,628,456 4,018,475 5,723,581 6,706,437 
			 Mid-98 Population 4,822,800 4,134,100 3,948,300 5,332,200 5,042,900 
			 1998–99 Spend per head (£) 0.80 0.64 1.02 1.07 1.33 
			 1999–2000 Direct arts spend 4,372,224 2,923,597 4,339,348 6,664,429 7,349,451 
			 Mid-99 Population 4,855,200 4,180,100 3,977,500 5,335,600 5,047,000 
			 1999–2000 Spend per head (£) 0.90 0.70 1.09 1.25 1.46 
			 2000–01 Direct arts spend 8,811,035 4,869,210 7,105,493 11,589,981 10,546,268 
			 Mid-2000 Population 4,876,500 4,201,000 4,012,400 5,334,800 5,057,700 
			 2000–01 Spend per head (£) 1.81 1.16 1.77 2.17 2.09 
			 2001–02 Direct arts spend 10,374,000 5,737,846 8,559,355 12,844,798 11,762,000 
			 Mid-2000 Population 4,876,500 4,201,000 4,012,400 5,334,800 5,057,700 
			 2001–02 Spend per head (£) 2.13 1.37 2.13 2.41 2.33 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. RAB arts spend figures are taken from RAB audited accounts, with the exception of 2001–02 figures which are taken from RAB business plans for that year.
	2. Population figures are calculated from figures provided by National Statistics. Mid-2000 figures are the latest available.

Regional Arts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the funding of regional arts and cultural services.

Kim Howells: The Arts Council of England carries out funding of regional arts organisations at arm's-length from the Government through the regional arts boards.
	Regional arts boards are currently independent charitable organisations, and grants to them from the Arts Council are subject to conditions set by the council. The council made operating grants of £97.6 million to the regional arts boards during the financial year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001.

Regional Arts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the savings which would be achieved under the revised proposals from the Arts Council of England regarding funding of arts in the regions.

Kim Howells: The Arts Council of England has set a target of £8 million to £10 million in savings from administration to put back into the arts. We have made it clear to the Arts Council of England that this target must be met. It is preparing a timetable for the restructuring which will generate those savings once the transfer to a single organisation has been completed.

Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was of the use of external consultants in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The cost of external consultants for the Department for the years in question is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 379,156 
			 1999–2000 711,394 
			 2000–01 320,795 
			 2001–02 spend to date 421,609

Libraries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the frequency of visits by members to libraries per annum in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: There has been no such formal assessment. However, with effect from 2001–02, library authorities will report, in their annual library plan, on their current position against the public library standards, which includes a target for visitor numbers. This will allow all library authorities to be assessed against the best performing ones.

Libraries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list by local authority (a) the number of members of library services and (b) the proportion of the authority's population who are members of its libraries; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: This information is not collected centrally. In 1999–2000, there were nearly 13.8 million active borrowers in England, ie. 27.7 per cent. of the population. An active borrower is a person who has borrowed at least one item from the library during the year.

City of London Corporation (Events)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the functions, engagements and events which Ministers, her officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997.

Kim Howells: The information my hon. Friend has requested is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and Civil Service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Kim Howells: The Department has had no members of staff seconded from the private sector since May 1997.

Commonwealth Games

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if additional public funding is being sought for the Commonwealth games in Manchester; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: On 2 July 2001 I announced an additional £80 million in funding for the games together with a contingency fund of £25 million, made up from contributions from Government, Sport England and Manchester city council. This additional funding was based on a thorough and realistic appraisal of the games equal costs undertaken by Patrick Carter.
	Since then the games has remained firmly on track and within budget. And I can confirm that we have not received any requests for additional public funding over and above that announced last year although Government and the other funders have approved an £8.4 million call on the contingency following the collapse of Atlantic Telecom, the games principal sponsor and telecoms infrastructure provider at the end of last year.

"Hidden Britain"

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the exclusion of the Northern Highlands, the Western Isles and the Northern Isles from the British Tourist Authority "Hidden Britain"; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The British Tourist Authority's (BTA) "Hidden Britain" campaign was designed to promote areas not normally explored on traditional tourist trails. It is not always possible to feature every part of Britain, but the BTA aims to ensure that each campaign is broadly representative. The BTA worked closely with the three national tourist boards, including VisitScotland, in preparing the "Hidden Britain" initiative.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Expenditure (Publications)

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: Estimated expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals since 1997 is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to promote the use of RNID typetalk within Government Departments.

Christopher Leslie: The Central Office for Information has published guidance for Government Departments on providing information in accessible formats for disabled people, including the use of textphone services. There are three text phone users in the Cabinet Office and all staff have also received advice on contacting them.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government Departments employ a trained lip speaker.

Christopher Leslie: Departments are responsible for their own arrangements: while some Departments may employ their own trained lip speakers, others may bring in lip speakers for specific events. Numbers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government publications were published in (a) Braille and (b) large print in 2001.

Christopher Leslie: Individual Departments are responsible for their own publications. Information on numbers published are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Government Departments are always willing to consider requests for providing information in accessible formats. For example, the Office of the e-Envoy consulted the Informability Unit at COI when planning the publication "Your guide to getting on". Copies have been produced in audio, large print and braille formats. By February 2002, 16 Braille, 75 large print and 525 audio copies had been supplied since the start of the public awareness campaign in November 2001.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many sign language specialists are employed by Government Departments for public and media relations.

Christopher Leslie: Departments are responsible for their own arrangements: while some Departments may employ their own sign language specialists, others may bring in sign language specialists for specific events. Numbers are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. As an example, in November the Cabinet Office ran the Civil Service training exercise "Dunchester's Millions" for a group of disabled undergraduates, which introduces potential candidates to the work of a Civil Service Fast Streamer. Three sign language interpreters were employed at this event to give profoundly deaf students an opportunity to participate fully in the activities.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government Departments provide (a) Braille facilities, (b) text phone facilities and (c) lip speaking training for employees.

Christopher Leslie: All Government Departments provide reasonable adjustments for disabled staff depending on an individual's particular needs. This includes the provision of Braille facilities, text phone services and lip speaking training where appropriate. For example, the Cabinet Office has three text phone users. The Cabinet Office Disability Staff Network (DisCO) is also running a deaf awareness workshop, which raises awareness among employees of the causes of deafness. It also offers background to sign language, deaf culture and lip reading skills.

Visual and Aural Impairment

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is possible to receive an audio version of Government publications.

Christopher Leslie: Yes. Many Government publications are published in audio versions as a matter of course. Departments are always willing to consider requests to provide other publications in accessible formats. For example, the Office of the e-Envoy consulted the Informability Unit at COI when planning the publication "Your guide to getting on". Copies have been produced in audio, large print and braille formats. By February 2002, 16 braille, 75 large print and 525 audio copies had been supplied since the start of the public awareness campaign in November 2001.

Social Exclusion Unit

John Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future work programme of the social exclusion unit.

John Prescott: Tackling social exclusion is a priority for this Government. We have put in place a twin track strategy to tackle low incomes and improve public services. The social exclusion unit was set up in 1997 to co-ordinate policy-making on specific cross-cutting projects focusing on some of the most intractable social problems. The unit has completed five major projects on tackling rough sleeping, teenage pregnancy, truancy and school exclusions, neighbourhood renewal and 16 to 18-year- olds not in education. These have resulted in a total of 27 reports, of which six set out a full policy response from Government.
	Over the next 12 months the social exclusion unit is planning to complete four projects on areas of cross cutting work. These areas are: reducing the rates of re-offending among ex-prisoners; developing a more effective system to prevent young people from running away and to help those that do; improving the educational achievement of children in care; and removing the transport barriers that prevent people accessing work and critical services.
	The Prime Minister and I will take a view on any new project as the work programme develops.
	The unit will also be working closely with the implementation units in other Government Departments to ensure that there is effective implementation of previous work carried out by the unit.
	To support this work the social exclusion unit will communicate and consult with members of the public, the voluntary and the business sector, local government and key professionals regarding the Government's policies on social exclusion, and ensure that they receive accurate, up-to-date information about the work of the unit.

Regional Government White Paper

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the White Paper on Regional Government will be published.

John Prescott: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W.

Ministerial Meetings (Lobbyists)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings (a) he and (b) his senior departmental officials have had with Enron and its subsidiaries in the last two years.

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what occasions he and his Department have held meetings since May 1997 with representatives from (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Exxon-Mobil, (d) Enron, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf; if he will state the purpose of each meeting; and if he will provide details of the outcomes and agreements reached as a result of each meeting.

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings have taken place between Ministers in his Department and employees of Citigate since 7 June 2001; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Tom Cox: To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service it decided not to prosecute in each of the last three years.

Harriet Harman: The figures show the number of defendants whose case was handled by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years, and the outcome of proceedings.
	The number and proportion of defendants whose case was discontinued in a magistrates' court was as follows:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 164,682 12.1 
			 2000 166,001 12.8 
			 2001 172,398 13.1 
		
	
	The number and proportion of defendants whose case was dropped in the Crown Court before a jury was sworn was as follows:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 9,331 10.7 
			 2000 10,070 11.9 
			 2001 11,292 13.7 
		
	
	The above figures represent cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with a prosecution on consideration of the evidence and the public interest.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Nursery Places

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the (a) actual and (b) percentage change in the number of nursery places provided by the (i) statutory and voluntary sectors and (ii) private sector in each education authority in England and Wales between 1996–97 and 2001–02; what percentage of three year olds had a nursery place in 1996–97; how many had a nursery place in 2000–01; and how many she expects to have a nursery place in 2001–02 in each education authority in England.

Margaret Hodge: The following table contains the available information on numbers of free early years education places taken up by three and four-year-olds. It has been derived from the table published alongside Statistical Bulletin 11/2001 "Provision For Children Under Five Years Of Age in England—January 2001" on my Department's statistical website www.dfes.gov.uk/ statistics/. My Department is planning to publish information for January 2002 in May.
	My Department estimates that there are free early years education places available for all eligible four-year-olds in England. Since September 1999, we have invested substantially in new free early years education places for three-year-olds. The table shows three-year-olds took up 335,000 free early years education places in January 2001, up from 214,000 in January 1997. We are committed to providing all three-year-olds, whose parents want one, with free early years education places by September 2004.
	Information for Wales is a matter for the Education Department of the National Assembly for Wales.
	
		Numbers of three and four-year-olds taking up free early education places, England, Government office regions and LEA areas 1997–2001 -- Position in January each year (spring term)
		
			  1997  
			  3-year-olds  
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(13),(14) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(15) 4-year-olds(16),(17) Total 
		
		
			 England 214,173 0 576,176 790,349 
			  
			 North-east 23,707 0 31,811 55,518 
			 Darlington 915 0 1,290 2,205 
			 Durham 4,217 0 5,868 10,084 
			 Gateshead 1,259 0 2,241 3,500 
			 Hartlepool 1,143 0 1,215 2,358 
			 Middlesbrough 1,919 0 2,004 3,923 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,878 0 3,087 4,965 
			 North Tyneside 1,837 0 2,441 4,278 
			 Northumberland 2,255 0 3,638 5,893 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,988 0 1,889 3,877 
			 South Tyneside 1,525 0 1,923 3,448 
			 Stockton on Tees 2,351 0 2,515 4,866 
			 Sunderland 2,420 0 3,701 6,121 
			   
			 North-west 42,204 0 83,348 125,552 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 709 0 1,912 2,621 
			 Blackpool 547 0 1,593 2,140 
			 Bolton 2,295 0 3,341 5,636 
			 Bury 1,079 0 2,281 3,360 
			 Cheshire 2,636 0 7,555 10,192 
			 Cumbria 2,597 0 5,587 8,184 
			 Halton 558 0 1,570 2,128 
			 Knowsley 2,044 0 2,263 4,307 
			 Lancashire 4,392 0 12,427 16,819 
			 Liverpool 4,187 0 5,595 9,782 
			 Manchester 3,722 0 5,981 9,703 
			 Oldham 1,540 0 3,124 4,664 
			 Rochdale 1,407 0 2,790 4,197 
			 Salford 2,231 0 3,263 5,494 
			 Sefton 2,051 0 3,226 5,277 
			 St. Helens 1,108 0 2,200 3,308 
			 Stockport 1,634 0 3,274 4,908 
			 Tameside 1,705 0 2,881 4,586 
			 Trafford 1,856 0 2,815 4,671 
			 Warrington 827 0 2,327 3,154 
			 Wigan 1,434 0 3,513 4,947 
			 Wirral 1,645 0 3,830 5,475 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 31,844 0 61,664 93,508 
			 Barnsley 1,264 0 2,868 4,132 
			 Bradford 4,376 0 6,637 11,013 
			 Calderdale 1,309 0 2,626 3,935 
			 Doncaster 2,364 0 3,800 6,164 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,053 0 3,214 4,267 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 2,240 0 3,517 5,757 
			 Kirklees 2,974 0 4,911 7,885 
			 Leeds 6,065 0 8,755 14,820 
			 North East Lincolnshire 922 0 2,079 3,001 
			 North Lincolnshire 521 0 1,842 2,363 
			 North Yorkshire 1,642 0 5,996 7,638 
			 Rotherham 1,304 0 3,397 4,701 
			 Sheffield 2,594 0 5,952 8,546 
			 Wakefield 2,540 0 4,217 6,757 
			 York 676 0 1,853 2,529 
			  
			 East Midlands 17,140 0 47,870 65,010 
			 Derby 1,331 0 3,056 3,056 
			 Derbyshire 3,612 0 8,295 13,238 
			 Leicester 924 0 3,909 3,909 
			 Leicestershire 1,474 0 5,921 8,400 
			 Lincolnshire 1,686 0 6,576 8,262 
			 Northamptonshire 2,277 0 7,464 9,741 
			 Nottingham 1,816 0 3,871 5,688 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,939 0 8,396 12,335 
			 Rutland 81 0 382 382 
			  
			 West Midlands 29,098 0 64,117 93,215 
			 Birmingham 7,427 0 12,474 19,901 
			 Coventry 1,674 0 3,651 5,325 
			 Dudley 2,267 0 3,696 5,963 
			 Herefordshire 182 0 1,869 2,051 
			 Sandwell 3,035 0 3,990 7,025 
			 Shropshire 471 0 2,944 3,415 
			 Solihull 1,250 0 2,575 3,825 
			 Staffordshire 3,471 0 9,563 14,227 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1,193 0 3,085 3,085 
			 Telford and Wrekin 319 0 1,921 2,240 
			 Walsall 3,079 0 3,585 6,664 
			 Warwickshire 1,357 0 5,551 6,908 
			 Wolverhampton 2,793 0 3,277 6,070 
			 Worcestershire 580 0 5,937 6,517 
			 East of England 11,658 0 62,005 73,663 
			 Bedfordshire 1,266 0 4,704 6,739 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,093 0 5,769 6,861 
			 Essex 1,559 0 14,007 15,566 
			 Hertfordshire 4,095 0 13,796 17,891 
			 Luton 769 0 2,674 2,674 
			 Norfolk 1,493 0 8,184 9,677 
			 Peterborough 373 0 1,922 2,295 
			 Southend-on-Sea 213 0 1,918 2,131 
			 Suffolk 605 0 7,351 7,956 
			 Thurrock 192 0 1,680 1,872 
			  
			 London 40,536 0 85,128 125,664 
			 Inner London 18,959 0 31,794 50,753 
			 Camden 802 0 1,808 2,610 
			 City of London 11 0 30 41 
			 Hackney 1,474 0 2,625 4,099 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,053 0 1,336 2,389 
			 Haringey 2,004 0 2,913 4,917 
			 Islington 1,266 0 2,184 3,450 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 542 0 1,213 1,755 
			 Lambeth 1,462 0 2,706 4,168 
			 Lewisham 1,412 0 2,917 4,329 
			 Newham 2,030 0 3,759 5,789 
			 Southwark 2,222 0 3,067 5,289 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,340 0 2,722 5,062 
			 Wandsworth 1,614 0 3,035 4,649 
			 Westminster 727 0 1,478 2,205 
			  
			 Outer London 21,577 0 53,334 74,911 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,332 0 2,436 3,768 
			 Barnet 2,021 0 3,534 5,555 
			 Bexley 1,069 0 2,657 3,726 
			 Brent 1,712 0 3,047 4,759 
			 Bromley 107 0 3,427 3,534 
			 Croydon 1,537 0 3,951 5,488 
			 Ealing 2,625 0 3,851 6,476 
			 Enfield 1,112 0 3,179 4,291 
			 Greenwich 1,981 0 2,994 4,975 
			 Harrow 451 0 2,308 2,759 
			 Havering 449 0 2,414 2,863 
			 Hillingdon 560 0 3,268 3,828 
			 Hounslow 1,563 0 2,560 4,123 
			 Kingston upon Thames 888 0 1,564 2,452 
			 Merton 1,644 0 2,225 3,869 
			 Redbridge 687 0 2,943 3,630 
			 Richmond upon Thames 570 0 1,843 2,413 
			 Sutton 325 0 2,140 2,465 
			 Waltham Forest 944 0 2,993 3,937 
			  
			 South-east 10,602 0 88,329 98,931 
			 Bracknell Forest 218 0 1,536 1,754 
			 Brighton and Hove 450 0 2,441 2,441 
			 Buckinghamshire 597 0 5,679 6,566 
			 East Sussex 933 0 4,799 6,182 
			 Hampshire 1,092 0 13,109 14,568 
			 Isle of Wight 115 0 1,302 1,417 
			 Kent 1,532 0 14,635 16,167 
			 Medway 315 0 2,962 3,277 
			 Milton Keynes 290 0 2,743 2,743 
			 Oxfordshire 770 0 6,875 7,645 
			 Portsmouth 171 0 2,039 2,039 
			 Reading 255 0 1,796 2,051 
			 Slough 231 0 1,559 1,790 
			 Southampton 196 0 2,148 2,148 
			 Surrey 2,080 0 12,051 14,131 
			 West Berkshire 236 0 1,761 1,996 
			 West Sussex 648 0 7,597 8,245 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 225 0 1,565 1,790 
			 Wokingham 248 0 1,732 1,980 
			  
			 South-west 7,384 0 51,904 59,288 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 308 0 1,685 1,993 
			 Bournemouth 127 0 1,533 1,533 
			 Bristol, City of 2,755 0 4,688 7,443 
			 Cornwall(18) 988 0 5,136 6,124 
			 Devon 866 0 6,866 7,732 
			 Dorset 300 0 3,621 4,175 
			 Gloucestershire 58 0 6,171 6,229 
			 North Somerset 159 0 1,810 1,969 
			 Plymouth 361 0 2,885 3,246 
			 Poole 127 0 1,348 1,348 
			 Somerset 472 0 5,204 5,676 
			 South Gloucestershire 403 0 2,745 3,148 
			 Swindon 94 0 2,142 2,142 
			 Torbay 151 0 1,213 1,364 
			 Wiltshire 215 0 4,858 5,167 
		
	
	
		
			  2001  
			  3-year-olds  
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(13) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers(15) 4-year-olds(16) Total 
		
		
			 England 226,634 108,815 589,293 924,742 
			  
			 North-east 21,871 3,288 29,436 54,595 
			 Darlington 919 49 1,299 2,268 
			 Durham 3,850 612 5,451 9,913 
			 Gateshead 1,342 593 2,275 4,209 
			 Hartlepool 961 34 1,130 2,125 
			 Middlesbrough 1,849 115 1,537 3,502 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,773 857 2,928 5,558 
			 North Tyneside 1,767 232 2,291 4,290 
			 Northumberland 2,139 136 3,421 5,696 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,601 14 1,707 3,322 
			 South Tyneside 1,450 143 1,719 3,312 
			 Stockton on Tees 1,813 100 2,329 4,242 
			 Sunderland 2,407 404 3,347 6,158 
			  
			 North-west 39,566 20,727 84,733 145,025 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 966 679 2,030 3,676 
			 Blackpool 314 1,075 1,562 2,951 
			 Bolton 2,088 926 3,659 6,673 
			 Bury 1,046 91 2,217 3,354 
			 Cheshire 2,172 783 7,800 10,755 
			 Cumbria 2,410 1,138 5,586 9,133 
			 Halton 542 577 1,414 2,533 
			 Knowsley 1,847 133 2,184 4,164 
			 Lancashire 4,199 5,155 15,681 25,036 
			 Liverpool 3,648 1,310 4,479 9,436 
			 Manchester 3,890 713 5,375 9,978 
			 Oldham 1,507 1,048 3,051 5,606 
			 Rochdale 1,287 966 2,733 4,985 
			 Salford 1,836 247 2,712 4,795 
			 Sefton 2,103 778 3,155 6,036 
			 St. Helens 1,084 495 2,079 3,659 
			 Stockport 1,703 87 3,323 5,114 
			 Tameside 1,580 581 2,764 4,925 
			 Trafford 1,497 196 2,551 4,244 
			 Warrington 889 1,099 2,360 4,348 
			 Wigan 1,358 1,194 3,634 6,186 
			 Wirral 1,600 1,455 4,383 7,438 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 31,804 15,223 58,804 105,831 
			 Barnsley 1,356 529 2,098 3,983 
			 Bradford 4,520 1,196 5,882 11,598 
			 Calderdale 1,184 666 2,364 4,215 
			 Doncaster 2,249 161 3,740 6,150 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,024 138 3,388 4,550 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 2,036 517 3,170 5,724 
			 Kirklees 2,489 1,488 5,028 9,005 
			 Leeds 5,642 1,786 8,436 15,864 
			 North East Lincolnshire 933 554 1,902 3,388 
			 North Lincolnshire 637 536 1,771 2,944 
			 North Yorkshire 1,705 3,218 6,287 11,210 
			 Rotherham 1,364 876 3,093 5,333 
			 Sheffield 3,372 2,030 5,825 11,227 
			 Wakefield 2,592 611 3,980 7,183 
			 York 701 916 1,840 3,457 
			  
			 East Midlands 19,103 8,321 48,829 76,253 
			 Derby 1,845 859 2,808 5,512 
			 Derbyshire 4,016 3,099 8,384 15,499 
			 Leicester 2,146 1,112 3,849 7,107 
			 Leicestershire 129 639 6,641 7,408 
			 Lincolnshire 1,749 41 7,022 8,812 
			 Northamptonshire 2,294 835 7,876 11,005 
			 Nottingham 2,509 700 3,557 6,765 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,328 1,008 8,318 13,653 
			 Rutland 87 30 374 491 
			  
			 West Midlands 30,441 9,450 65,826 105,717 
			 Birmingham 7,200 3,844 14,033 25,076 
			 Coventry 1,984 1,031 3,753 6,767 
			 Dudley 2,336 738 3,743 6,816 
			 Herefordshire 336 115 2,249 2,701 
			 Sandwell 3,059 100 3,509 6,668 
			 Shropshire 499 309 3,144 3,952 
			 Solihull 1,499 59 2,711 4,270 
			 Staffordshire 2,554 443 9,201 12,198 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1,842 367 2,836 5,044 
			 Telford and Wrekin 651 596 2,115 3,363 
			 Walsall 2,838 151 3,427 6,416 
			 Warwickshire 1,473 813 5,964 8,250 
			 Wolverhampton 2,584 134 3,010 5,728 
			 Worcestershire 1,586 751 6,132 8,468 
			  
			 East of England 15,740 4,352 64,060 84,151 
			 Bedfordshire 1,202 218 4,888 6,308 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,154 867 5,897 7,918 
			 Essex 1,992 221 15,051 17,264 
			 Hertfordshire 6,406 257 13,495 20,159 
			 Luton 975 996 2,643 4,614 
			 Norfolk 1,932 126 8,404 10,462 
			 Peterborough 288 593 2,132 3,013 
			 Southend-on-Sea 446 440 2,087 2,973 
			 Suffolk 857 477 7,617 8,950 
			 Thurrock 488 157 1,845 2,490 
			  
			 London 46,679 20,825 87,835 155,339 
			 Inner London 21,508 10,078 34,058 65,644 
			 Camden 915 718 2,075 3,707 
			 City of London 12 1 35 48 
			 Hackney 1,520 968 2,714 5,202 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,025 586 1,564 3,174 
			 Haringey 1,932 486 3,391 5,809 
			 Islington 1,252 812 2,089 4,153 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 612 277 1,031 1,920 
			 Lambeth 1,955 1,163 3,062 6,180 
			 Lewisham 1,892 968 3,018 5,878 
			 Newham 3,306 551 3,947 7,804 
			 Southwark 2,242 1,150 3,397 6,789 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,358 281 2,809 5,448 
			 Wandsworth 1,629 1,349 3,210 6,187 
			 Westminster 858 768 1,717 3,343 
			  
			 Outer London 25,171 10,747 53,778 89,695 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,418 326 2,338 4,082 
			 Barnet 1,995 389 3,665 6,049 
			 Bexley 1,314 911 2,570 4,796 
			 Brent 1,684 875 2,985 5,544 
			 Bromley 247 428 3,657 4,332 
			 Croydon 1,894 623 4,123 6,640 
			 Ealing 2,604 527 3,725 6,856 
			 Enfield 1,236 1,034 3,483 5,753 
			 Greenwich 1,800 765 2,846 5,411 
			 Harrow 615 350 2,379 3,344 
			 Havering 603 1,210 2,317 4,130 
			 Hillingdon 1,813 119 3,336 5,268 
			 Hounslow 1,564 550 2,491 4,605 
			 Kingston upon Thames 911 172 1,678 2,760 
			 Merton 1,707 117 2,099 3,923 
			 Redbridge 1,587 852 3,352 5,790 
			 Richmond upon Thames 546 40 1,974 2,560 
			 Sutton 266 360 2,037 2,663 
			 Waltham Forest 1,367 1,098 2,723 5,188 
			  
			 South-east 12,705 14,255 93,691 120,651 
			 Bracknell Forest 147 735 1,329 2,212 
			 Brighton and Hove 732 1,032 2,560 4,325 
			 Buckinghamshire 790 404 6,075 7,269 
			 East Sussex 588 1,113 4,953 6,654 
			 Hampshire 589 1,748 14,560 16,897 
			 Isle of Wight 131 471 1,433 2,035 
			 Kent 1,494 818 15,773 18,085 
			 Medway 412 2,119 3,231 5,762 
			 Milton Keynes 379 197 2,774 3,349 
			 Oxfordshire 1,024 213 6,885 8,122 
			 Portsmouth 441 880 2,501 3,822 
			 Reading 716 202 1,721 2,639 
			 Slough 976 32 1,655 2,664 
			 Southampton 334 1,346 2,310 3,990 
			 Surrey 2,426 2,145 12,755 17,326 
			 West Berkshire 273 99 1,646 2,018 
			 West Sussex 816 441 8,222 9,479 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 306 226 1,521 2,052 
			 Wokingham 131 32 1,787 1,950 
			  
			 South-west 8,725 12,375 56,080 77,180 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 288 195 1,827 2,310 
			 Bournemouth 282 914 1,568 2,764 
			 Bristol, City of 2,653 1,169 4,453 8,274 
			 Cornwall(18) 987 2,089 5,208 8,284 
			 Devon 1,200 630 7,330 9,159 
			 Dorset 215 288 3,987 4,490 
			 Gloucestershire 97 3,385 8,472 11,954 
			 North Somerset 200 98 2,000 2,297 
			 Plymouth 744 1,508 2,540 4,792 
			 Poole 92 742 1,374 2,208 
			 Somerset 503 217 5,404 6,124 
			 South Gloucestershire 341 145 3,114 3,600 
			 Swindon 412 172 2,346 2,930 
			 Torbay 391 505 1,349 2,245 
			 Wiltshire 320 319 5,108 5,747 
		
	
	
		
			   Actual change in numbers 1997 to 2001(19)  Percentage change in numbers 1997 to 2001(20)  
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 England 121,276 13,118 57 2 
			  
			 North-east 1,452 -2,375 6 -7 
			 Darlington 53 10 6 1 
			 Durham 245 -417 6 -7 
			 Gateshead 676 34 54 1 
			 Hartlepool -148 -85 -13 -7 
			 Middlesbrough 45 -467 2 -23 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 752 -159 40 -5 
			 North Tyneside 162 -150 9 -6 
			 Northumberland 20 -216 1 -6 
			 Redcar & Cleveland -373 -182 -19 -10 
			 South Tyneside 68 -204 4 -11 
			 Stockton on Tees -438 -185 -19 -7 
			 Sunderland 391 -354 16 -10 
			  0
			 North-west 18,089 1,385 43 2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 936 118 132 6 
			 Blackpool 842 -32 154 -2 
			 Bolton 719 319 31 10 
			 Bury 58 -63 5 -3 
			 Cheshire 319 245 12 3 
			 Cumbria 951 -1 37 -0 
			 Halton 561 -156 101 -10 
			 Knowsley -64 -79 -3 -3 
			 Lancashire 4,963 3,254 113 26 
			 Liverpool 771 -1,116 18 -20 
			 Manchester 881 -605 24 -10 
			 Oldham 1,015 -73 66 -2 
			 Rochdale 846 -58 60 -2 
			 Salford -148 -551 -7 -17 
			 Sefton 830 -71 40 -2 
			 St. Helens 471 -121 43 -5 
			 Stockport 156 50 10 2 
			 Tameside 456 -117 27 -4 
			 Trafford -163 -264 -9 -9 
			 Warrington 1,162 33 141 1 
			 Wigan 1,118 120 78 3 
			 Wirral 1,410 553 86 14 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 15,183 -2,860 48 -5 
			 Barnsley 621 -770 49 -27 
			 Bradford 1,340 -755 31 -11 
			 Calderdale 541 -262 41 -10 
			 Doncaster 46 -60 2 -2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 109 174 10 5 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 313 -346 14 -10 
			 Kirklees 1,003 117 34 2 
			 Leeds 1,362 -319 22 -4 
			 North East Lincolnshire 565 -178 61 -9 
			 North Lincolnshire 652 -72 125 -4 
			 North Yorkshire 3,281 291 200 5 
			 Rotherham 936 -304 72 -9 
			 Sheffield 2,808 -127 108 -2 
			 Wakefield 663 -236 26 -6 
			 York 941 -13 139 -1 
			  
			 East Midlands 10,284 960 60 2 
			 Derby 1,372 -248 103 -8 
			 Derbyshire 3,503 89 97 1 
			 Leicester 2,334 -60 253 -2 
			 Leicestershire -706 720 -48 12 
			 Lincolnshire 104 447 6 7 
			 Northamptonshire 852 413 37 6 
			 Nottingham 1,392 -314 77 -8 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,397 -78 35 -1 
			 Rutland 35 -8 43 -2 
			  
			 West Midlands 10,793 1,709 37 3 
			 Birmingham 3,617 1,558 49 12 
			 Coventry 1,341 102 80 3 
			 Dudley 807 46 36 1 
			 Herefordshire 270 380 148 20 
			 Sandwell 124 -481 4 -12 
			 Shropshire 337 201 71 7 
			 Solihull 308 137 25 5 
			 Staffordshire -474 -362 -14 -4 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1,016 -249 85 -8 
			 Telford and Wrekin 929 194 292 10 
			 Walsall -90 -158 -3 -4 
			 Warwickshire 929 412 68 7 
			 Wolverhampton -75 -267 -3 -8 
			 Worcestershire 1,757 194 303 3 
			  
			 East of England 8,434 2,055 72 3 
			 Bedfordshire 155 183 12 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 928 129 85 2 
			 Essex 654 1,044 42 7 
			 Hertfordshire 2,568 -301 63 -2 
			 Luton 1,202 -31 156 -1 
			 Norfolk 565 220 38 3 
			 Peterborough 508 211 136 11 
			 Southend-on-Sea 673 169 316 9 
			 Suffolk 729 266 120 4 
			 Thurrock 453 165 236 10 
			  
			 London 26,968 2,707 67 3 
			 Inner London 12,627 2,264 67 7 
			 Camden 831 266 104 15 
			 City of London 2 5 18 15 
			 Hackney 1,014 89 69 3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 558 227 53 17 
			 Haringey 414 479 21 16 
			 Islington 798 -96 63 -4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 347 -182 64 -15 
			 Lambeth 1,656 355 113 13 
			 Lewisham 1,448 101 103 3 
			 Newham 1,827 188 90 5 
			 Southwark 1,170 330 53 11 
			 Tower Hamlets 299 87 13 3 
			 Wandsworth 1,364 175 84 6 
			 Westminster 899 239 124 16 
			  
			 Outer London 14,341 443 66 1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 412 -97 31 -4 
			 Barnet 363 130 18 4 
			 Bexley 1,156 -87 108 -3 
			 Brent 847 -62 49 -2 
			 Bromley 568 231 531 7 
			 Croydon 980 172 64 4 
			 Ealing 506 -126 19 -3 
			 Enfield 1,158 303 104 10 
			 Greenwich 584 -149 30 -5 
			 Harrow 514 71 114 3 
			 Havering 1,364 -97 304 -4 
			 Hillingdon 1,372 68 245 2 
			 Hounslow 551 -69 35 -3 
			 Kingston upon Thames 195 114 22 7 
			 Merton 180 -125 11 -6 
			 Redbridge 1,752 409 255 14 
			 Richmond upon Thames 16 131 3 7 
			 Sutton 301 -104 93 -5 
			 Waltham Forest 1,521 -271 161 -9 
			  
			 South-east 16,358 5,362 154 6 
			 Bracknell Forest 664 -207 304 -13 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,315 119 292 5 
			 Buckinghamshire 597 397 100 7 
			 East Sussex 768 154 82 3 
			 Hampshire 1,245 1,451 114 11 
			 Isle of Wight 487 131 424 10 
			 Kent 780 1,138 51 8 
			 Medway 2,216 269 704 9 
			 Milton Keynes 286 31 98 1 
			 Oxfordshire 467 9 61 0 
			 Portsmouth 1,150 462 672 23 
			 Reading 663 -76 260 -4 
			 Slough 778 96 337 6 
			 Southampton 1,484 162 758 8 
			 Surrey 2,491 704 120 6 
			 West Berkshire 137 -115 58 -7 
			 West Sussex 609 625 94 8 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 306 -44 136 -3 
			 Wokingham -85 55 -34 3 
			  
			 South-west 13,716 4,176 186 8 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 175 143 57 8 
			 Bournemouth 1,069 35 845 2 
			 Bristol, City of 1,067 -236 39 -5 
			 Cornwall(18) 2,088 72 211 1 
			 Devon 963 464 111 7 
			 Dorset 203 366 67 10 
			 Gloucestershire 3,424 2,301 5,903 37 
			 North Somerset 139 190 87 10 
			 Plymouth 1,892 -345 524 -12 
			 Poole 707 26 556 2 
			 Somerset 248 200 53 4 
			 South Gloucestershire 83 369 21 13 
			 Swindon 490 204 523 10 
			 Torbay 745 136 494 11 
			 Wiltshire 424 251 197 5 
		
	
	(13) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools Census.
	(14) Figures for LEAs that were re-organised in April 1997 were obtained by apportionment.
	(15) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. Nursery Education Grant for three-year-olds was allocated to the 65 local education authorities in 1999–2000 and all LEAs in 2000–01.
	(16) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(17) Summer term 1997.
	(18) Includes Isles of Scilly
	(19) Expressed as the difference between the numbers of children attending a provider in 2001 compared to 1997.
	(20) Percentage change in the numbers of children attending a provider in 2001 compared to 1997.

Nursery Places

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) three and (b) four- year-olds in St. Helens, South there are (i) with a full-time nursery place and (ii) without a full-time nursery place.

Margaret Hodge: The available information shows that there were 120 three-year-olds and 1,570 four-year- olds who took up full-time nursery education places in St. Helens local education authority area in January 2000.
	My Department estimates that there are free part-time early education places available for all eligible four- year-olds in England. We are also committed to providing all three-year-olds, whose parents want one, with free part-time early years education places by September 2004.

Private Finance Initiative

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many of her Department's PFI contracts Arthur Andersen has been an adviser; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire, whether through the Private Finance Initiative or other procurement routes, taking into account the Government's policy of seeking value for money for the taxpayer. As regards PFI contracts, the public sector as a whole has signed hundreds of deals covering the delivery of a range of services, including hospitals, police stations, transport and schools. Many hundreds of firms covering a range of activities will be involved in the delivery of contracted services. In my Department Arthur Anderson has not been used as an adviser on any PFI contracts.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the supplemental submission to the School Teachers' Review Body from the six teaching organisations in England issued in December 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: It is for the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) to consider evidence submitted to it and their assessment will inform their recommendations to my right hon. Friend. The STRB's main report for 2002–03 was published in January and my right hon. Friend is now consulting key stakeholders, including teaching unions, on proposed changes to teachers' pay and conditions of service before any changes are implemented. The STRB is currently undertaking a special remit on teacher work load and is expected to report in April.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will allow head teachers and teachers a three-month sabbatical once they have completed 10 years continuous service; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No. However a sabbatical scheme for experienced teachers with five years or more experience in challenging schools (defined as having 50 per cent. or more free school meals) was introduced in September 2001. Sabbaticals last for a period of up to six weeks, and can be used flexibly. The sabbatical scheme will run for an initial three year period and will then be reviewed.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will establish any new rents-to-mortgages schemes for teachers in the London area.

Stephen Timms: We have no plans at present to introduce such a scheme. However, we do recognise that the cost of housing in London is one of the drivers behind teachers' decisions about their future. That is why, as part of the Government's £250 million Starter Homes Initiative, more than 1,600 London teachers will receive assistance to purchase homes in areas of high price or demand. We are also working closely with the Department for Transport, London and the Regions, the NHS, Home Office and the Housing Corporation, to develop a long-term strategy that will provide affordable housing for key workers.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further action she is taking to reduce the level of student performance evaluation work required by teachers; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Performance evaluation helps to ensure that pupils and students are getting a good education. Coursework assessment is a long standing feature of examinations and can be a valuable way of assessing achievement that cannot readily be demonstrated in an examination. The Government are not planning any changes to coursework limits.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further action she is taking to help schools in London retain teachers.

Stephen Timms: Retaining good teachers within the profession is key to continuing to raise standards in schools. Our research has consistently shown that work load is a significant factor in influencing teachers to leave the profession. That is why we have asked the School Teachers' Review Body to consider the findings of the recent PricewaterhouseCooper's study that we commissioned into reducing teachers' work loads. The STRB will report to us by the end of April this year and we have already announced the piloting of 30 school work force pathfinders to test out innovative solutions to reducing work load and bureaucracy in schools. In addition, we made almost £20 million available in 2001–02 directly to schools in London to fund local recruitment and retention initiatives. In recognition of the problems that London teachers continue to face, we have recently announced a further, increased, figure of more than £22 million for 2002–03. The cost of housing in London is also a key driver behind teachers' decisions about their future. That is why, as part of the Government's £250 million Starter Homes Initiative, more than 1,600 London teachers will receive assistance to purchase homes in areas of high price or demand. We have also announced our proposal to accept the STRB's recently announced recommendations, including a further above inflation pay increase of 3.5 per cent. for all teachers and that good, experienced, teachers should in future be able to receive a £2,148 pay increase on crossing the threshold after five years instead of seven. London allowances, other than the inner London Supplement, will also be increased by 3.5 per cent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out our longer term proposals for all teachers and teaching in a pamphlet, "Professionalism and Trust", published in November 2001.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason Surrey has been allocated less money from the Recruitment and Retention Fund than other LEAs in the South East.

Stephen Timms: The criteria used for deciding allocation of funding was made on the basis of regional vacancy rates, using data supplied annually by LEAs on form 618G. These were averaged out over the last three years for which validated data were available—i.e. ending with the data for January 2001—to avoid the allocation being over-influenced by a one-off peak in vacancies in a single year. In order to make any sort of accurate assessment of need we had to work from a reliable and statistically valid baseline. That is what the form 618G provided us with. We used the same criteria for the 2000–01 allocations and we had always indicated that we would seek a consistent approach in both years.

Teachers Pay and Conditions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent guidance has been issued to schools in relation to management of performance- related pay for teachers.

Stephen Timms: Performance pay points are awarded at the discretion of governing bodies of individual schools. My Department sent guidance on teachers' pay to schools in England and Wales in September. This included advice on school salary policies and awarding performance pay points.

Student Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the levels of student debt on leaving university; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The most recent assessment made in a Departmental survey, in the Student Income and Expenditure Survey for 1998–99, was an average of £2,528 anticipated debt. That survey was conducted before the present system of student support was fully implemented. The most recent evidence, from the UNITE/MORI poll conducted in the autumn of 2001, suggests that higher education students currently owe on average £4,203 and expect to owe £8,133 on graduating. This has to be considered in the context of graduates currently earning around 35 per cent. more than the national average and potentially around £400,000 more over their working lives.

Student Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to reduce the burden of debt on students; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Our current review of student finance is considering both the student debt issue, particularly in relation to the lower socio-economic groups, and the relative contributions of students, parents and the Government to student support. We shall make an announcement on the outcome of the review and will consult with all interested parties.

Student Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about parental contributions to student fees.

Margaret Hodge: Our review of student finance is considering the relative contributions of students, parents and the Government to student support. We shall make an announcement on the outcome of the review and will consult with all interested parties.

Lecturers (Pay)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher and further education establishments have not implemented the 3.7 per cent. wage rise for lecturers.

Margaret Hodge: The Department does not collect this information centrally. However, we understand from figures produced by the Association of Colleges that 80 per cent. of general further education colleges have implemented an award of 3.7 per cent. or higher, a further 10 per cent. have implemented a partial award and 10 per cent. have yet to make an award.
	Lecturers in higher education institutions are paid according to separate higher education pay scales and have settled for a minimum 4.3 per cent. pay award for 2001–02. We are not aware of any Higher Education Institutions failing to implement the award.

Lecturers (Pay)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures there are to ensure that the wage increase for university lecturers, agreed in August 2001, is paid by colleges and universities to staff.

Margaret Hodge: The higher education employers and trades unions will monitor the implementation of the pay awards they have agreed. The Government do not play a part.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the President of the Council what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Robin Cook: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 1204W.

Fair Trade Goods

Michael Weir: To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 897W, on Fair Trade goods, if, during Fair Trade Fortnight, he will review the amount of fairly traded goods used in his Department.

Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz) on 11 February 2002.

Parliamentary Questions

Jimmy Wray: To ask the President of the Council if he will make proposals to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to enable an employee of an hon. Member to hand in oral questions to the Table Office.

Robin Cook: The Procedure Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into parliamentary questions, and I will ensure this suggestion is drawn to the attention of the Chairman.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many farms the Church owns; and how many it owned in 1997.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners currently own 353 farms of at least 20 hectares, and a large number of smaller holdings.
	On the best information available, the comparable figure for 1997 is 379.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to written answer 23221, of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 495W, for what reason this information is market sensitive; and which share prices of other markets could be affected by the provision of a response to it.

John Spellar: Release of this unaudited information could have an adverse effect on the company's bonds. We are not aware of other share prices of other markets that could be affected.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who will provide working capital for the company limited by guarantee prior to the completion of Railtrack administration.

David Jamieson: No working capital will be required.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  who made the approaches to (a) Mr. Iain McAllister and (b) Mr. Iain Coucher to join the team working on a company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack; and what other approaches have been made to potential directors of a company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack;
	(2)  who took the decision to recruit (a) Mr. Iain McAllister and (b) Mr. Iain Coucher to the team working on a company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack.

David Jamieson: It is in the public interest that at least one viable bid is submitted to the administrator for him to judge alongside any other bids that are made. To this end my Department took the initial steps to engage a team to develop a bid based on the concept of a company limited by guarantee.
	My Department announced the appointment of Iain McAllister on 29 November 2001. Subsequently, the Strategic Rail Authority announced on 17 December that it had taken responsibility for the engagement of the CLG team and for meeting its bid costs. The SRA announced the appointment of Iain Coucher on 16 January. Copies of the relevant press notices have been placed in the Library of the House. It is for the bid team to make a proposal to the administrator, including a proposal for the management of the proposed company.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who will meet the legal costs of the team working to establish a company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack.

David Jamieson: The cost of the bid team's legal advisers, will be paid directly by the Strategic Rail Authority from within its budget.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he has received requests from the European Commission for clarification of the application for state aid consent for Railtrack in administration.

David Jamieson: There is a continuing dialogue with the European Commission about the application that the United Kingdom has submitted for state aid approval.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, ref 30241, Official Report, column 320W, how and when these costs will be repaid to the SRA.

John Spellar: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The SRA is itself funding the cost of putting forward a proposal based on the concept of a CLG on the basis that it is in the public interest to ensure that at least one viable bid is put to the administrator, which would enable Railtrack to be taken out of administration as soon as possible, which articulates a particular vision for a not for distributable profit railway network operator and which can be tested against other bids.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether Schroder Salomon Smith Barney are retained by his Department.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 583W.

Railtrack

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how many shares he held in Railtrack Group Plc on 31 March 2001; how many he holds now; and what value was received for shares sold;
	(2)  what the market value at 31 March 2001 was of shares held by him in Railtrack Group Plc; and what the current market value is of such shares.

John Spellar: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The Government held 1,031,243 shares in Railtrack Group Plc at 31 March 2001, approximately 0.2 per cent. of the total called up share capital. They still holds these shares.
	At the share price of 687p on 31 March 2001, the Government's shareholding was valued at £7.08 million. Trading in the shares of Railtrack Group Plc was suspended on 8 October 2001. At that time the share price was 280, valuing the Government's shareholding at £2.89 million.

Transport for London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff are employed by Transport for London working (a) exclusively and (b) 50 per cent. of their time on new train routes in London.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for the Mayor and Transport for London.

Rail Strikes

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) days work by staff, (b) days work by passengers, (c) trains and (d) passenger journeys have been lost to railway strike action in each year since 1991.

John Spellar: The information is not available in the form requested.

Ministerial Visits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip.

Alan Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 707W.

Departmental Secondments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff in his Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 7 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1129–30W.

Local Government Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will state, for each local authority in London, what the real terms increase in total external support was between (a) 1992–93 and 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 and 2001–02; and what the projected real terms increase will be in 2002–03.

Alan Whitehead: Because of changes in function, responsibility and area it is not possible to produce a fully consistent set of grant figures for the period from 1992–93 to 2002–03. The main changes comprise the transfer of funding of colleges of further education and sixth form colleges from local authorities to the Further Education Funding Council and changes associated with the introduction of the Greater London Authority. There are also various smaller changes in function and responsibility.
	Table 1 shows the actual amount of total external support received by London authorities in 2001–02, the adjusted amount for 2001–02 for comparison with 2002–03, the amount for 2002–03, the cash increase relative to the adjusted 2001–02 amount, and the increase in real terms.
	Table 2 shows, for the City and the London boroughs, the actual amounts of total external support received in 1992–93, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 2001–02, together with the actual changes in total external support between 1992–93 and 1996–97 and between 1997–98 and 2001–02.
	For any year total external support is the sum of redistributed non-domestic rates, Revenue Support Grant, Principal Formula Police Grant, SSA Reduction grant and Central Support Protection Grant.
	
		Table 1£ million 
		
			 Authority Actual 2001–02 grant Adjusted 2001–02 grant(21) 2002–03 grant Adjusted cash increase Adjusted real increase 
		
		
			 City of London 87.307 85.605 89.029 3.424 1.284 
			 Camden 197.281 184.995 197.944 12.950 8.324 
			 Greenwich 222.117 212.448 223.376 10.929 5.616 
			 Hackney 242.677 238.720 249.106 10.386 4.417 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 144.503 138.019 146.490 8.471 5.020 
			 Islington 199.670 196.090 203.933 7.844 2.940 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 117.917 113.989 122.280 8.292 5.441 
			 Lambeth 260.331 255.965 268.418 12.453 6.052 
			 Lewisham 241.892 235.029 244.529 9.500 3.623 
			 Southwark 269.502 265.415 283.523 18.108 11.471 
			 Tower Hamlets 288.075 280.332 296.449 16.117 9.107 
			 Wandsworth 206.822 197.065 204.948 7.883 2.955 
			 Westminster 198.752 191.544 205.117 13.573 8.783 
			 Barking and Dagenham 146.386 139.743 148.240 8.497 5.003 
			 Barnet 207.164 190.168 202.544 12.376 7.621 
			 Bexley 154.980 146.360 156.610 10.250 6.590 
			 Brent 223.458 211.269 223.766 12.497 7.214 
			 Bromley 172.766 156.535 166.674 10.139 6.225 
			 Croydon 224.286 219.247 231.468 12.221 6.739 
			 Ealing 231.215 220.207 231.267 11.061 5.554 
			 Enfield 218.542 205.308 219.733 14.424 9.291 
			 Haringey 218.050 211.003 222.832 11.829 6.553 
			 Harrow 128.889 127.855 134.053 6.199 3.002 
			 Havering 140.082 135.491 142.977 7.486 4.098 
			 Hillingdon 166.928 154.842 165.681 10.839 6.967 
			 Hounslow 173.953 161.867 168.711 6.845 2.797 
			 Kingston upon Thames 81.060 74.257 79.455 5.198 3.341 
			 Merton 109.805 106.620 111.720 5.100 2.434 
			 Newham 301.631 297.248 314.154 16.906 9.473 
			 Redbridge 181.765 165.434 175.930 10.496 6.359 
			 Richmond upon Thames 77.840 77.255 80.404 3.149 1.217 
			 Sutton 116.266 106.043 113.551 7.508 4.856 
			 Waltham Forest 199.383 194.705 203.903 9.198 4.329 
			 GLA—all functions 1,921.062 1,882.079 1,943.191 61.111 14.050 
		
	
	(21) For comparison with 2002–03
	
		Table 2£ million 
		
			 Authority 1992–93 grant 1996–97 grant Actual increase between 1992–93 and 1996–97 1997–98 grant 2001–02 grant Actual increase between 1997–98 and 2001–02 
		
		
			 City of London 66.322 91.699 25.377 94.473 87.307 -7.167 
			 Camden 187.375 177.850 -9.525 181.669 197.281 15.612 
			 Greenwich 192.385 192.117 -0.268 189.742 222.117 32.375 
			 Hackney 260.536 232.572 -27.965 231.980 242.677 10.697 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 164.172 141.059 -23.113 137.485 144.503 7.018 
			 Islington 207.103 181.565 -25.538 180.452 199.670 19.218 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 129.902 109.063 -20.839 108.858 117.917 9.059 
			 Lambeth 304.100 251.203 -52.897 243.876 260.331 16.454 
			 Lewisham 223.606 207.480 -16.126 210.053 241.892 31.840 
			 Southwark 248.790 227.136 -21.654 227.260 269.502 42.242 
			 Tower Hamlets 233.668 234.105 0.436 237.612 288.075 50.463 
			 Wandsworth 248.595 203.582 -45.013 200.232 206.822 6.591 
			 Westminster 219.329 190.100 -29.229 194.241 198.752 4.511 
			 Barking and Dagenham 108.486 109.785 1.300 112.042 146.386 34.344 
			 Barnet 200.265 168.138 -32.127 170.167 207.164 36.997 
			 Bexley 139.662 120.304 -19.359 121.680 154.980 33.300 
			 Brent 261.863 206.830 -55.033 201.552 223.458 21.906 
			 Bromley 169.135 137.560 -31.576 141.661 172.766 31.106 
			 Croydon 230.242 185.432 -44.810 187.175 224.286 37.112 
			 Ealing 249.843 197.592 -52.251 192.255 231.215 38.960 
			 Enfield 195.798 172.569 -23.229 175.844 218.542 42.698 
			 Haringey 210.626 187.379 -23.246 184.301 218.050 33.749 
			 Harrow 135.610 110.637 -24.973 109.234 128.889 19.655 
			 Havering 139.639 115.946 -23.693 114.841 140.082 25.241 
			 Hillingdon 153.274 138.194 -15.080 138.589 166.928 28.338 
			 Hounslow 159.277 146.096 -13.181 147.188 173.953 26.765 
			 Kingston upon Thames 87.682 68.505 -19.177 68.087 81.060 12.973 
			 Merton 114.200 92.488 -21.712 92.160 109.805 17.645 
			 Newham 250.284 239.128 -11.156 242.050 301.631 59.582 
			 Redbridge 160.990 142.499 -18.490 144.277 181.765 37.488 
			 Richmond upon Thames 91.913 64.605 -27.308 65.851 77.840 11.989 
			 Sutton 105.900 94.605 -11.294 95.225 116.266 21.040 
			 Waltham Forest 197.033 169.359 -27.674 167.912 199.383 31.471

TransPennine Rail Services

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the new TransPennine franchise will ensure that services continue to stop at South Milford station (a) on Sundays and (b) in the evenings when there is no alternative service.

David Jamieson: Services departing from Hull after 19.00 and departing Leeds after 18.45 Mondays to Fridays, 18.15 Saturdays and Sundays, currently call at South Milford and these are protected by the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR). Bidders for the new TransPennine Express franchise have been instructed by the Strategic Rail Authority that services protected by the PSR must be maintained.

West Coast Main Line

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Rugby and Crewe to (a) alleviate the effects of and (b) reduce the number of crossing moves at (i) Nuneaton, (ii) Lichfield and (iii) Colwich; and what is (A) the current status of, (B) the start date of and (C) the expected completion date for such works;
	(2)  what plans he has for upgrading the power signal boxes on the WCML at (a) Warrington, (b) Preston and (c) Carlisle; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(3)  what plans he has for the redevelopment of the Styal Line junction at (a) Wilmslow, (b) Heald Green and (c) Slade Lane on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(4)  what plans he has for upgrading the manual signal boxes at (a) Basford Hall, (b) Crewe Coal Yard, (c) Salop Goods and (d) Grest Lane and what is the (i) status of, (ii) start date of and (iii) expected completion date for such works;
	(5)  what plans he has for infrastructure works to (a) alleviate the effects of and (b) reduce the number of crossing moves (i) to the north and south of Crewe Station on the Stafford to Preston route of the WCML, (ii) at Norton Bridge Junction to and from the Manchester line and (iii) at Basford Hall; and what is (1) the status of, (2) the start date of and (C) the expected completion date for such works;
	(6)  what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Crewe and Manchester to allow additional capacity between Crewe and Manchester airport; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for the expected resulting capacity increase between Crewe and Manchester airport of such works;
	(7)  what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Stafford and Colwich to alleviate the effects of slow line conflicts at (a) Milford, (b) Whitehouse and (c) Trent Valley Junction at Stafford; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(8)  what plans he has for the provision of additional track and for alternative projects, to alleviate the capacity constraints caused by the mixture of fast and slow trains on the WCML between (a) Birmingham and Wolverhampton and (b) Birmingham and Rugby; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the extended completion date for such work;
	(9)  what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 2-track stretches of the WCML between Crewe and Carlisle; and what is (a) the percentage of the route due to remain 2-track following from, (b) the status of, (c) the start date of and (d) the expected completion date for such works;
	(10)  what plans he has for redevelopment of the junctions at (a) Ardwick and (b) Stockport (Edgeley) on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(11)  what plans he has for the redevelopment of (a) Acton Grange, (b) Euxton and (c) Farrington Curve Junctions on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(12)  what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 2-track stretches of the WCML between (a) Stafford and Colwich and (b) Tamworth and Armitage; and what is (i) the percentage of the route due to remain 2-track following from, (ii) the status of, (iii) the start date of and (iv) the expected completion date for such works;
	(13)  what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 3-track stretches of the WCML between Rugby and Attleborough; and what is (i) the percentage of the route due to remain 3-track following from, (ii) the status of, (iii) the start date of and (iv) the expected completion date for such works;
	(14)  what plans he has to redevelop the entrance to Liverpool Lime Street Station on the WCML to reduce capacity constraints; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works;
	(15)  what plans he has for works to (a) reduce the length of headways between Carstairs and Slateford on the West Coast Main Line and (b) construct overtaking loops on the WCML between Cairstairs and Slateford; and what is the (i) status of, (ii) start date of and (iii) expected completion date for such works;
	(16)  what plans he has for the provision of (a) additional tracks and (b) alternative projects, to alleviate the capacity constraints caused by an increasing differential in train speeds on the WCML between Euston and Rugby; and what is (i) the current status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(17)  what plans he has for upgrading the manually operated ground frames on the WCML to the north of Preston; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works;
	(18)  what plans he has for infrastructure works to alleviate the capacity constraints on the WCML between Springs Branch and Flyde Junction caused by the mix of speed and crossing movements; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works;
	(19)  what plans he has to increase the number of tracks along the 2-track section of the WCML to the north of Carlisle; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works;
	(20)  what plans he has for (a) the provision of additional tracks and (b) alternative projects to alleviate capacity constraints caused by differential train speeds on the WCML between Wilmslow and Sandbach; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works.

Stephen Byers: The west coast main line upgrade is a commercial arrangement between Virgin and Railtrack. Work is in hand to deliver Phase 1 outputs in 2003. The train operating companies, freight operators, Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority are currently reviewing the Phase 2 outputs. Discussions are in progress to identify a solution which provides best value to the taxpayer while optimising both route capacity and operational ability, and which best meets the requirements of the many different users of the line. Various infrastructure works are being considered, as are various timetabling options.

Rail Passengers

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 526–27W, on rail passenger projections, from whom the research was commissioned on (a) future rail passenger demand on Eurostar and (b) to develop a model of rail passenger demand; for what reasons his Department did not require a research report to be published; by what means of communication his Department was informed of the research findings; and if he will provide a summary of the main findings from the research.

David Jamieson: The research on future rail passenger demand on Eurostar was commissioned from Booz Allen and Hamilton. The Department did not require a research report to be published because of the commercially sensitive nature of the subject. The Department was informed of the research findings by spreadsheet reports and a seven page report. The main findings of the research were that growth in Eurostar passenger and revenues was expected to continue albeit to a lower level than forecast in 1998.
	The research to develop a model of rail passenger demand is on going. The findings of the research are expected to be published following the conclusion of the study. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 17 January 2002, Official Report, column: 426W and 21 January 2002 Official Report, columns 569–70W.

Strategic Rail Authority

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 532W, on the Strategic Rail Authority, on what date the final direction and guidance will be published; what implications the update will have for the Strategic Rail Authority plan published on 14 January; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Final directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority will be published in due course.

Rail Freight

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 526W, on rail freight projection, from whom the research was commissioned in both cases; for what reasons his Department did not require a research report to be published; by what means of communication his Department was informed of the research findings; and if he will provide a summary of the main findings from the research.

David Jamieson: The research into future demand to move deep sea containers by rail was commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Department did not require a research report to be published because of the commercially sensitive nature of the subject. The Department was informed of the research findings by presentations and a written report.
	The research to review freight modelling techniques across all modes was commissioned from ME&P part of the WSP Group. The research is ongoing and the findings are expected to be published following the conclusion of the study.

Rail Freight

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Ref 31538, Official Report, column 328W, how much of the £3.5 billion of funding had not been announced prior to 14 January 2002; how much of the funding is capital investment; and how much of this is unallocated.

David Jamieson: holding answer 4 February 2002
	All of the £3.5 billion of public funding for rail freight was included in the rail expenditure figures published in the Ten Year Plan for Transport in July 2000. Around three-quarters of the £3.5 billion is expected to be capital investment. All of it will be allocated in accordance with the mechanisms for applying public funds set out in the Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy, published in May 2001.

Rail Fares

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 532W, on the regulation of rail fares, on what date the results of the study on the regulation of fares will be published; what implications the conclusions will have upon the Strategic Rail Authority plan published on 14 January; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The existing fares policy has been in operation since the first franchises were let in 1996, with around 40 per cent. of fares subject to regulation. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is now reviewing this policy to see how it might be improved. As part of this review it will be seeking the contribution of industry stakeholders, including both train companies and passengers.
	The SRA will be issuing a consultation document within the next few months. The outcome of this study will be announced as soon as possible. However, until conclusions have been reached about the results of the review it will not be possible to know what implications they may have for the current and future strategic plans.

Rail Delays

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the total weekly rail delays, in minutes, for each week from 1 June 2001 to 30 January 2002; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: holding answer 31 January 2002
	Delay minutes are an operational matter for Railtrack. The Strategic Rail Authority publishes information on train punctuality and reliability quarterly in "On Track". The issues published on 14 March 2002 will report performance to the end of December 2001. Data on train operating companies' performance is published on a six monthly basis in "National Rail Trends".

A5 Nesscliffe Bypass

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on (a) the progress made and (b) the expected completion date of the A5 Nesscliffe bypass near Shrewsbury.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 12 February 2002
	The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A5 Nesscliffe Bypass.
	We awarded £11.4 million Design and Build Contract for this scheme to Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd on 21 December 2001. Site clearance is due to start this month and, based on the current programme, we expect the bypass to open in Spring 2003.
	Around the time the main works start in March, a public exhibition will be held in Nesscliffe, to explain the planned construction programme to local people. Details of the venue will be sent to you nearer the time.
	If you require any further information, Paul Tully, the Project Manager for the scheme, would be pleased to help. We can be contacted at the Agency's offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL or by telephone on 0121 678 8456.

Aviation Industry (Emergency State Aid)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding Europe- wide aid to airlines; and which European Governments have granted aid to their flag carriers in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: Guidelines issued by the European Commission on emergency state aid for the European aviation industry following the events of 11 September were discussed by Community Transport Ministers at the Transport Councils on 16 October and 7 December 2001.
	A one-month bridging loan of euro 125 million to Sabena from the Belgian Government was approved by the European Commission as rescue aid on 17 October 2001. The French Government have recently notified the Commission that they propose to grant some euro 55 million in emergency aid to French airlines affected by 11 September. In Switzerland a complex financial package was put together in the wake of the collapse of Swissair, which included some euro 650 million of direct aid from the Swiss federal and Canton Governments. We do not have details of aid provided by other European countries outside the European Community.

Fixed Penalty Notices

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many fixed penalty notices were issued by (a) Buckinghamshire county council and (b) Aylesbury Vale district council in each of the last five years; what the average fine levied in each year was; and what the total sums raised in each year were.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested is not held by my Department.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Alan Whitehead: There have been no secondments between DTLR and the companies listed in either 1999–2000, 2000–01 or since April 2001.

Departmental Meetings (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what occasions he and his Department have held meetings since May 1997 with representatives from (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Exxon- Mobil, (d) Enron, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf; if he will state the purpose of each meeting; and if he will provide details of the outcomes and agreements reached as a result of each meeting.

Alan Whitehead: Ministers and officials from this Department meet representatives from major oil companies regularly to discuss a range of issues. It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Buses

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to allow longer buses to be used on UK roads.

David Jamieson: The European Directive on the dimensions of certain categories of vehicles was amended on 17 January 2002 to allow increases in the length of buses and coaches. The changes include provisions to ensure that longer buses are compatible with UK road layouts. My Department will shortly be consulting on regulations to implement it into UK law.
	At present it is planned to hold a trial of a number of coaches 12.8m in length (current UK maximum is 12m) that will be travelling between Bath, Swindon, London Heathrow airport and London. The purpose of this trial is to assess options for wheelchair accessibility.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the (a) current status of, (b) start date of and (c) expected completion date for the channel tunnel rail link phase one project.

Stephen Byers: Section 1 of the channel tunnel rail link, from the channel tunnel to Fawkham junction, is currently on time, on budget and approximately 78 per cent. complete. Work started in 1998 and is due for completion in 2003.

London Underground (Sickness Absence)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to reduce the number of working days lost through absence of staff on medical grounds on the London underground.

David Jamieson: In response to what London Underground (LU) recognised was an unacceptable level of performance during 2000–01, they initiated a programme of activity to address this and get performance moving back to the levels which had been achieved in 1999–2000. A major focus of this activity was to reduce peak hour train cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators, as well as to better manage staff absences of all kinds.
	The benefits of this work are now being realised, with the level of peak cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators now running at less than 20 trains per week, down by 80 per cent. since December 2000, and the level of employee attendance generally, improving. Details of the specific management actions being taken are a matter for LU.

London Underground (Sickness Absence)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 50W, for what reason London Underground is not able to provide information on absence on medical grounds for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 50W, on London Underground, for what reason London Underground is unable to disaggregate by year the total for working days lost through authorised absence, unauthorised absence and due to sickness for the period January 1996 to December 2000;

David Jamieson: London Underground Ltd. advises that accurate and consistent figures for the period in question could be provided only by gathering information from individual staff records. This information can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Alan Whitehead: My Department is not a major direct purchaser of products that could be subject to fair trade, but I am encouraging the catering contractor in my headquarter buildings to attend.

Radioactive Materials (Transport)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the incidents involving trains carrying (a) radioactive materials and (b) other nuclear materials which have resulted in the radioactive contamination of (i) vehicles and (ii) packaging in the north-west of England in the last six months.

David Jamieson: Such incidents are reported on an annual basis in the review of accidents and incidents including the transport of radioactive material. These reports are placed in the Libraries of the House.

Council Tax

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of households in which the head of the household is registered as disabled paid at least (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent. and (c) 15 per cent. of their gross income in council tax in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Whitehead: This information is not available.

Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst & Young, (c) Deloitte & Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Alan Whitehead: There have been no secondments from DTLR to any of the companies listed within the dates given.
	Since April 2001 there has been one inward secondment from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Rail Industry

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the European Union Transport White Paper for vertical integration of the UK rail Industry.

John Spellar: holding answer 5 February 2002
	EC Directive 2001/14, referred to in the EU Transport White Paper, requires the separation of infrastructure capacity allocation functions from the provision of railway transport services. This does not necessarily preclude vertical integration, and any proposals which meet EU requirements will be afforded due consideration.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: Information as to the costs of accountancy services is not available due to disproportionate costs.

Mobile Telephones

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff.

Alan Whitehead: The exact answer required cannot be provided in the details asked for except at disproportionate cost. However, information is available as follows:
	Mobile Phone expenditure for the Department is:
	
		£ 
		
			 Fiscal Year Mobile phone spend by DTLR 
		
		
			 1997–98 33,357.57 
			 1998–99 157,764.96 
			 1999–2000 244,623.72 
			 2000–01 332,401.94 
			 2001–02(22) 280,042.26 
		
	
	(22) Year to date
	
		£ 
		
			 Mobile phone spend 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02(23) 
		
		
			 Agencies  
			 Vehicle Inspectorate (24)— (24)— 247,395.00 297,960.00 215,175.00 
			 Planning Inspectorate (24)— (24)— 5,400.00 4,705.25 2,943.82 
			 DVLA (24)— 105.75 776.44 2,240.50 1,200.86 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency (24)— (24)— (24)— 9,607.44 10,610.39 
			 Highways Agency 126,739.00 127,716.00 119,246.00 139,300.00 83,631.00 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 1,281.16 2,741.16 2,066.60 927.68 1,875.68 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (24)— 74,686.00 88,075.00 105,130.00 97,410.00 
			 Fire Service College 3,591.00 3,517.00 4,183.00 1,404.00 2,525.00 
			 Driving Standards Agency 13,226.00 10,791.00 16,134.00 21,357.00 16,504.00 
			 The Rent Service (24)— (24)— 57,000.00 133,000.00 99,000.00 
			   
			 NDPBs  
			 Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust 1,134.53 1,412.66 2,497.92 1,684.42 (24)— 
			 Audit Commission (24)— (24)— (24)— 510.17 1,511.13 
			 Health and Safety Executive (24)— (24)— 195,353.00 239,575.00 197,344.00 
			 Housing Corporation 22,379.00 22,166.00 21,088.00 30,264.00 34.116.00 
			 Liverpool Housing Action Trust (25)13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 
			 Northern Lighthouse Board 9,942.67 34,681.00 48,997.99 52,764.06 36,930.40 
			 Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust 3,629.00 1,406.00 341.00 682.00 41.00 
			 Castle Vale Housing Action Trust 16,700.00 18,200.00 13,300.00 17,300.00 12,000.00 
			 Stonebridge Housing Action Trust 2,819.00 2,556.00 1,838.00 1,582.00 1,345.00 
			 Standards Board (24)— (24)— (24)— (24)— 2,202 
			 Trinity House Lighthouse Service 46,000 47,000 45,000 46,000 (26)59,000 
		
	
	(23) Year to date
	(24) Figures unavailable
	(25) Estimated figures
	(26) Projection to end of fiscal year
	Notes:
	Figures do not reflect machinery of Government changes
	Figures are unavailable from the remaining NDPBs, without incurring disproportionate cost

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: Information as to legal costs incurred by the Department is unavailable due to disproportionate costs.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case.

Alan Whitehead: A list showing the amounts spent by DTLR(C) and each agency has been placed in the Libraries of the House. As much information as can be readily retrieved has been set out, though this differs between agencies, some of whom could not provide all the information required without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure in respect of Ministers is not recorded separately but is included within the figures for DTLR(C).
	For overseas travel the Department pays flat rate per diem allowances as advised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Accordingly it is not possible to determine separate accommodation and food costs.
	It is the Department's policy not to reimburse staff directly for alcohol costs. However, where in some cases staff are paid a flat rate allowance for subsistence costs this may be spent on alcohol but information on this is not available.
	Information in respect of NDPBs is not available due to disproportionate cost.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non- departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed.

Alan Whitehead: The exact answer required cannot be provided in the detail asked for except at disproportionate cost.

Rail Investment

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the public money going to the railways in the 10-year plan will support investment in new facilities.

John Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 871–72W.

Electoral Modernisation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what action he is taking to allow voting online; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to propose an amendment of the law to allow voters to vote at any polling station; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The development of online voting, which we are pursuing in partnership with the Electoral Commission as part of our programme of electoral modernisation, will allow people to vote wherever they have internet access, including in any polling station. The aim of this programme is to make voting more accessible, maintaining the security and integrity of the electoral process. Through a range of projects, including research, development and the piloting of innovations, we would expect an e-enabled general election sometime after 2006.

Electoral Modernisation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage higher turnout at elections; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: As the Electoral Commission recognised in its report—Election 2001—it is above all the quality and persuasiveness of the policies put forward by the political parties, and their ability to motivate voters, that will determine future turnout trends. For their part, the Government are committed to making voting more accessible, with arrangements more suited to today's lifestyles, while maintaining the security and integrity of the electoral process.
	Accordingly, we have established a programme of electoral modernisation, working with the Electoral Commission, and other stakeholders, which includes developing electronic voting, with the expectation of an e-enabled general election sometime after 2006.

Electoral Modernisation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to increase voter registration; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: Measures to promote public awareness of all aspects of the electoral system are now the responsibility of the Electoral Commission, under Section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. I understand that the Commission intends to run two advertising campaigns each year, in the spring to encourage rolling registration in time for local government elections and in the autumn to encourage completion and return of the annual canvass form.

Student Accommodation (Houses in Multiple Occupation)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he intends to take to restrict the use of houses in multiple occupation for students.

Sally Keeble: The Government have no specific plans to restrict the use of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by students. However, the Government are committed to raising the standards that exist in this part of the private rented sector. We have already consulted on our plans to introduce a national licensing scheme for HMOs. We believe that alongside our plans to introduce a new housing fitness regime and the selective licensing of landlords in areas of low housing demand we will achieve a real improvement in the quality of the private rented sector.
	The measures we are pursuing will provide greater clarity as to what constitutes an HMO (currently a real difficulty for local authorities and landlords—particularly as to whether student households fall within the definition). Also, licensing criteria would include the physical condition of the property, the provision of relevant safety certificates, the fitness of the licensee and their management competency. This will benefit not only the occupants of these types of properties, many of whom will be students, but also responsible landlords and other local residents.

Domestic Violence Survivors' Refuges

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many refuges for survivors of domestic violence have been taken back into direct management by registered social landlords in each of the last five years.

Sally Keeble: The information requested is not recorded by the Department, nor are we aware of any centralised location where this is stored.
	The Department has asked local authorities to collect current information (including with regard to refuges and other supported housing schemes) as part of the mapping of all housing related support services in preparation for supporting people. Information will be available by September.

Noise Insulation (Schools)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out his Department's policy on noise insulation for schools in respect of areas where (a) noise insulation regulations apply and (b) noise barriers are to be installed in a discretionary scheme by the Highways Agency.

David Jamieson: The Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 apply to dwellings and other buildings used for residential purposes that are affected by a new or substantially altered road. Schools do not fall within this definition of residential use. However, residential accommodation belonging to schools may qualify for insulation.
	The criteria for the Highways Agency to apply in considering the need for additional noise barriers that could be provided under the discretionary powers within the Highways Act was answered to the House in a written answer on 22 March 1999, Official Report, columns 50–51W.
	The assessment of need in these cases has been based on the number of residential properties affected, in order to remain consistent with the application of the noise insulation regulations to highway improvement schemes.

Advanced Train Protection System

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the advanced train protection system to be installed and operational on all trains.

David Jamieson: A steering group jointly chaired by the Strategic Rail Authority and Railway Safety is presently evaluating the options for the extension of automatic train protection, including their timings and their costs, and expects to report to the Health and Safety Commission in the spring. The Commission will then advise Ministers.

Park Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many park home sites operate under planning permission but without licences.

Sally Keeble: Under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 most park home sites must have a site licence issued by the local authority. There are some exemptions from the need for a licence, for example, in respect of parks operated by local authorities or sites used to accommodate those engaged in building work. We do not hold information on the number of sites for which licences are not held.

Park Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to prevent the operation of park home sites without a full licence.

Sally Keeble: One of the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party was that there should be a requirement for local authorities to be notified of a change of ownership of a park, so as to allow a licence to be issued the new owner. In our response to the Working Party's recommendations, we have indicated that we agree that a formal requirement for notification of a sale could help authorities to operate controls more effectively. We will consider this, along with other recommendations, when taking forward the agenda for reform set out in our recent response to the Working Party's report.

Park Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he will take to spread best practice in the park home industry to all park home sites.

Sally Keeble: Following recommendations made by the Park Homes Working Party, we have commissioned and published good practice guidance to local authorities on their roles with regard to harassment and illegal eviction, and site licensing. In addition, the Working Party suggested that the park home industry's voluntary model agreement for residents and site owners should be reviewed following discussion between residents' and site owners' bodies. We have welcomed this proposal and discussions between the parties have already begun.

Park Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he will take to prevent abuse of service charges for park home residents.

Sally Keeble: Following a recommendation made by the Park Homes Working Party, we have commissioned a study of the economics of the park homes industry to assist in consideration of the principles on which pitch fees should be set and reviewed, and the maximum level of commission which should be set. We will consider the position on the payments made by park home residents in the light of the findings of this study.

Park Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform the Mobile Homes Act 1983; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Proposals for amendments to the Mobile Homes Act 1983 were included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. Following consultation, we issued our response to the working party's report on 29 November last year, and placed copies of it in the Library of the House. This gives a detailed response to each of the working party's recommendations and indicates how we intend to take them forward.

Departmental Underspend

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total underspend in his Department was on (a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure in each financial year since May 1997.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 7 February 2002
	It is not possible to provide a split between capital and non-capital expenditure on a cash basis, except at disproportionate cost.

Asbestos

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to strengthen the enforcement of regulations related to the handling of asbestos; and what future proposals he has in this area.

Alan Whitehead: Through its programme of inspection of licensed asbestos work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made it a priority to target specific categories of licensees and to inspect sites where the proposed method of work gives cause for concern.
	Enforcement under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (as amended) (CAWR) and the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (as amended) has continued to rise significantly.
	A proposed amendment to CAWR, will place a duty on occupiers and anyone else who has maintenance and repair responsibilities to manage asbestos in workplace premises. The regulations are also being amended to include a proposal to require accreditation for the analysis of material to determine whether it contains asbestos.
	The guidance in the existing CAWR Approved Code of Practice for work with asbestos is also being reviewed.

Asbestos

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many prosecutions have been brought, and by which agencies, for breach of asbestos-related regulations in each of the past 10 years.

Alan Whitehead: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'s prosecution statistics are based on the information laid by health and safety inspectors before the courts in England and Wales and on the charges preferred in Scottish courts. Each information laid or charge preferred relates to a breach of an individual legal requirement and a duty holder may be prosecuted for more than one of these breaches.
	The table sets out proceedings taken over the last five years by HSE under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (as amended) and the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (as amended), the main regulations applying to asbestos activities. Access to older data is not readily available and would require restoration of archived databases. HSE does not record prosecutions taken by other agencies.
	
		
			 Year Informations laid Convictions 
		
		
			 1996–97 42 34 
			 1997–98 49 43 
			 1998–99 46 43 
			 1999–2000 151 49 
			 2000–01(27) 94 59 
		
	
	(27) Data for 2000–01 is provisional and subject to change.
	Note:
	Data from HSE's Field Operations Directorate (FOD), Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID), Land Divisions (exc mines, pipelines, explosives) and Nuclear Safety Divisions (NSD) (conventional safety only).

Travellers

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he gives local authorities on the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998 in applications for and enforcement of possession orders to evict travellers from unauthorised occupation of public parks and open spaces.

Sally Keeble: No specific guidance has been given to local authorities on the requirements of the Human Rights Act in relation to applications for and enforcement of possession orders to evict travellers from unauthorised occupation of public parks and open spaces.
	However, local authorities as public bodies are subject to the Human Rights Act and need to weigh this as a consideration in reaching decisions about possession order actions.

Car Safety

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on making car fronts safer since the publication of the Road Safety Strategy.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan (Mr. Turner) on 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 505W.
	The European Commission's proposal to introduce pedestrian protection features in new cars by means of a negotiated agreement with vehicle manufacturers was approved by the Internal Market Council on 26 November 2001. It is currently being considered by the European Parliament.

Llandogo-Monmouth Bus Service

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the results were of the bus compliance officers investigation into the stagecoach red and white service between Llandogo and Monmouth; and what subsequent action has been taken.

Sally Keeble: Monitoring of the service by vehicle inspectorate bus compliance officers took place during December 2001. One timetable irregularity was found.
	As a result of the monitoring exercise, the traffic commissioner decided that Red and White Services Ltd. should be reminded of their obligations to operate services in accordance with the registration, and that they could face disciplinary action if they do not. A letter to that effect was sent to the operator by the Welsh Traffic Area Office on 23 January 2002. The letter also advised that further reliability monitoring of the service would be conducted in the near future.

A47 Corridor

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for a multi-modal transport study of the A47(T) corridor in eastern England; who is undertaking the study; which length of the A47 corridor is to be included; when the study is to begin; when the report is expected to be published; and if he will publish submissions from interested parties which have already been made as part of the consultation process.

David Jamieson: The A47 between Norwich and Peterborough was included in the programme of Multi-Modal Studies announced on 23 March 1999 as a Tranche 3 Study. The study incorporates both the A47 between its junction with the A1, to the west of Peterborough, and the beginning of the Norwich Southern Bypass, just west of Norwich, and the Peterborough to Norwich railway via Ely.
	On 28 January 2002, the Government Office for the East of England appointed WS Atkins Consultants Ltd. to undertake the study. Determining the precise work programme will be part of the first phase of the study, but it is expected to report to the Regional Planning Body in early 2003.
	Consultation with key stakeholders, interested bodies and organisations, elected members and the public will be an essential part of the study. Results will be presented by the consultants in a "Consultation and Participation" report.

Representation of the People Act

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce proposals to amend the Representation of the People Act 2000 to allow citizens of EU member states resident in the UK to vote in Westminster parliamentary elections.

Alan Whitehead: The Government's view is that extending the franchise in this way would need to be by reciprocal agreement with all other EU member states. There are no current proposals by the European Commission for action in this area.

Fire Service (London)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the integrated clothing project for the fire service in London.

Alan Whitehead: I announced the results of the third round of the Private Finance Initiative for the fire service on 25 October 2001. The indicative bid which London submitted on behalf of a number of fire authorities for an integrated clothing project was not one of the bids selected for support. The unsuccessful bidders were offered feedback on their bids. A meeting has been arranged between officials and representatives of the fire service in London.

City of London (Ward Elections) Bill

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what communications have taken place between Ministers, officials and advisers with the City of London Corporation in relation to the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill since 1997.

Alan Whitehead: As with many other Private Bills, we have had—and continue to have—discussions and correspondence with the promoters of the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill.

Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has for action on initiative 4.2.8 of Modern Ports: A UK Policy, that suggests a reserve of power to safeguard port marine safety.

David Jamieson: We consulted in March 2000 on a proposed reserve power, which was recommended in our review of the Pilotage Act which was published in July 1998. We proposed that, if it appeared to the Secretary of State that a harbour authority had failed, or was failing, to discharge any of its statutory functions, and that a serious danger to navigation or serious threat of pollution was likely to result, he should have the power, after consulting the harbour authority and such other persons as he considered appropriate, to give the authority appropriate directions. There has been no opportunity so far to promote the necessary legislation.

Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will abolish the Statutory Harbour Undertakings (Pilotage Accounts) Regulations 1988.

David Jamieson: These Regulations are made under Section 42 of the Harbours Act which relates to the accounts of statutory harbour authorities relating to the harbour activities and empowers the Secretary of State to prescribe their form and content. The Pilotage Act 1987, which transferred responsibility for providing pilotage services to competent harbour authorities and empowered them to levy pilotage charges, extended this provision to pilotage accounts.
	The effect of the 1987 Act is to require pilotage accounts to be kept separately, although there is no similar requirement in relation to any other harbour authority activity. A review of the 1987 Act, published in 1998, recommended that this separation was no longer needed, but there has been no opportunity to change that requirement.

Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to ensure that the role of competent harbour authorities is separate from the ownership of a port.

David Jamieson: A comprehensive review of responsibility for pilotage was undertaken after the 'Sea Empress' grounding five years ago. It was published, with Ministers' conclusions, in July 1998. It was a principal conclusion of that review that pilotage ought to remain a harbour authority function, and become fully integrated with other port safety services under harbour authority control.

Planning

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of appeals against a refusal of planning permission were received by the Inspectorate during the final month of the six month time limit in the last three years.

Sally Keeble: The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. John Burnett, dated 12 February 2002
	Sally Keeble has asked me to reply to your Question about the percentage of planning appeals made against refusal of planning permission during the final month of the six-month time limit in the last 3 years.
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of appeals Number submitted in the final month Percentage submitted in the final month 
		
		
			 1999–2000 13,408 4,360 33 
			 2000–01 15,105 4,643 31 
			 2001–02(28) 7,175 1,983 28 
			 Total 35,688 10,986 31 
		
	
	(28) Up to the end of July 2001 LPA decision dates

Planning

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has to introduce a statutory duty on local planning authorities to enforce planning controls;
	(2)  what plans he has to provide additional powers to local planning authorities to encourage compliance with enforcement orders.

Sally Keeble: As we indicated in our Planning Green Paper published on 12 December 2001, we intend to review the current arrangements for enforcement by local planning authorities.

Planning

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to enable a member of the public to have locus standi to apply for a prerogative order of mandamus or equivalent in respect of a breach of planning controls.

Sally Keeble: We have no current plans to do so.

Planning

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he intends to amend section 87 of the Town and Country Act 1971 and section 171 B of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 relating to the use of a building as a single dwelling house.

Sally Keeble: Section 87 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 was replaced by sections 171B, 172, 173 and 173A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. All these sections deal with aspects of local planning authorities' enforcement powers. As we indicated in our Planning Green Paper we intend to review the current enforcement arrangements.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many investigations have been concluded by the MAIB; what the cost incurred was; and how many staff were employed in MAIB investigations in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The MAIB receives, on average about 1,500 accident reports each year. Only a small number are subjected to a full investigation but many more are followed up in Administrative Inquiries where further information is sought. A number of these lead to the identification and promulgation of lessons to be learned. The sole aim of the MAIB is to prevent accidents at sea.
	The figures are produced in tabular form.
	Prior to 1999 only selected investigation reports were published. All investigations completed since have resulted in the production of a report that has been made publicly available. In very general terms the MAIB has tended to look at fewer accidents overall each year but more thoroughly.
	The costs of all investigations are met from the running cost budget of the Branch. This has increased in each of the past five years. The greater expenditure incurred in 1998 was due to additional costs involved in conducting a higher than normal number of underwater surveys.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(29) 
		
		
			 Administrative inquiries completed 695 628 636 546 459 
			 Full investigations completed 55 40 39 40 47 
			 MAIB running costs in £000 1,106 1,579 1,205 1,450 1,372 
			 Staff involved directly in investigations 11 11 12 14 15 
		
	
	(29) Provisional

Solway Harvester

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from the Isle of Man authorities regarding the timing of the publication of the MAIB report into the Solway Harvester.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has had no representations from the Isle of Man authorities regarding the timing of the MAIB report into the Solway Harvester.

Solway Harvester

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the police in the Isle of Man on the timing of the release of the MAIB report into the sinking of the Solway Harvester.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has had no discussions with the Isle of Man police regarding the timing of the MAIB report into the Solway Harvester.

Second Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the most recent figures for the number of (a) second residences which are entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax rebate and (b) holiday residences taxed as such for business purposes broken down by (i) parish, (ii) district, (iii) unitary authority and (iv) county for the nations and regions of the UK, expressed (A) numerically and (B) as a percentage of the housing stock.

Alan Whitehead: The information is as follows:
	(a) We estimate that approximately 220,000 second homes (defined as furnished and no-one's main residence) in England were entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount as at October 2000. This represents 1.0 per cent. of the total domestic housing stock in England. Comparable figures for each parish, district and county/unitary area in England are not available.
	(b) 15,507 premises in England were subject to non-domestic rates and let as self-catering holiday homes at 1 January 2002. While many of these premises are individual self-catering holiday homes, some whole sites of holiday homes are counted as a single premises for rating purposes, even though they contain many individual homes. The figures do not include premises where it is not intended that the property is let as holiday accommodation for more than 140 days in a year as these are subject to council tax and not to non-domestic rates. Nor do the figures include bed and breakfast accommodation that is liable to non-domestic rates.
	The figure mentioned is equivalent to the 0.07 per cent. of the total domestic housing stock in England, as recorded at 1 April 2001 on the 2001 HIP Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix. Although the HIP figures include holiday residences, it is possible that they are not counted in the same way as they are for non-domestic rating purposes.
	I will write separately to the hon. Member with equivalent figures for each principal local authority in England. Separate figures are not, however, available for parishes.
	Figures for (a) and (b) for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the relevant devolved Administrations.

Pilots

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of section G(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 1971 on the employment without work-permits of non-EU pilots as crew for UK-based airlines.

David Jamieson: My officials have discussed the working of immigration legislation in the aviation field regularly with colleagues in the employment and immigration services. In principle I am not opposed to non-EU pilots directly employed by UK airlines having to obtain work permits, but I could not support any proposals for changing current arrangements which would create operational difficulties for UK airlines in terms of their ability to wet-lease foreign aircraft to meet emergency situations or seasonal fluctuations in demand, or for other acceptable reasons within the terms of the EU legislation governing the use of foreign registered aircraft by community airlines.

Pilots

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage other EU countries to validate UK national pilot licences on the same basis as the UK validates the national licences of other EU member states.

David Jamieson: The matter of validation of national pilot licences within the EU is addressed by EC Directive 91/670/EEC. The Directive requires EU member states to recognise those licences issued by other member states but allows an individual state to require additional requirements if there is reasonable doubt as to the equivalence of the licence. In compliance with the Directive, the UK requires all applicants for licence validation to pass an examination in national aviation law and in some circumstances further proficiency checks. Other EU member states similarly impose additional requirements for the validation of other states' licences, including UK pilot licences. These additional requirements are required to meet the national legislation of the state and are in accordance with the terms of the EC Directive 91/670/EEC.

Speed Signs (Bredhurst)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions further to his answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 457W, on speeding signs in Bredhurst, if he will grant authorisation for the installation of interactive speeding signs in Kent where the sites have been approved and the parish councils are willing to pay for their installation.

David Jamieson: The decision to seek approval to install speed activated signs rests with the local authority responsible. In this case Kent county council. If Bredhurst parish council believe their village is suitable for these signs they would need in the first instance to approach Kent county council. The council would need to consider whether the site is appropriate and seek approval from my Department.
	My Department is currently considering the findings of a report prepared by TRL on the effectiveness of speed activated signs in reducing vehicle speeds. We hope to start preparing guidance for local authorities with a view to authorising those signs which the report has found to be effective later in the year.

Maritime Professionals

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to increase the number of people becoming trainers of maritime professionals; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Recruitment is a matter for the individual shipping companies themselves. There are Government measures, however, to assist and encourage the training and employment of British seafarers. We provide financial support for seafarer training through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme. Following a review of SMarT in autumn/winter 2000 and the receipt of EU State Aid clearance, additional courses will be included in the scheme and levels of funding will be increased. We introduced the tonnage tax option as part of the Finance Act 2000, a key feature of which is a minimum training obligation. This feature is unique to the UK, and requires each shipping company opting for the tonnage tax to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every 15 officer posts in its fleet and also give consideration to employment and training opportunities for ratings.

Marine Safety

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has make of (a) safety and (b) working conditions on board ships; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Marine surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out inspections which include an assessment of compliance with health and safety requirements and other regulations which safeguard working conditions on board ships, and take any necessary action where deficiencies are found. On foreign ships in UK ports these inspections are carried out as part of a co-ordinated inspection regime with European partners.
	Owners and operators of ships have a duty to provide a safe working environment for those on board ship, and employers on UK ships are required to use risk assessment to comply with health and safety legislation.

Ships' Officers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the manpower strength of ships' officers.

David Jamieson: Exact figures are not available. However, the latest available estimates are that there are about 15,000 active UK seafarer officers employed at sea assuming a retirement age of 65, or about 13,000 assuming a retirement age of 57.

Organophosphates

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the international studies and investigations of exposure to organophosphates in aviation engine lubricants, with particular reference to pilots and flight staff, which are under review in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: There are a number of investigations under way into episodic contamination from aviation engine lubricants that include, but are not confined to, the possibility of cabin air contamination by 'organophosphates'. This includes work in the UK involving the relevant aeroplane and engine manufacturers, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
	Recent research sponsored by the CAA, and conducted by DSTL Porton Down, made a specific toxicological review of the products liberated from pyrolysed aviation engine oil. Further follow up work by the CAA is in progress. International studies into the quality of cabin air supplied to crew and passengers are being conducted by several bodies of repute. These include the US National Academy of Sciences, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aviation Propulsion Lubricants Committee, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and two EC Fifth Framework projects.
	This research, together with that produced by CAA and industry itself, will be considered by a new specialist group involving the FAA, the Joint Aviation Authorities and industry representatives, tasked with reviewing the Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) and Federal Aviation Requirements (FAR) design requirements for cabin ventilation and pressurisation. This Department will continue to monitor the outcome of research into episodic contamination through the aviation health working group.

Regional Development Agencies

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the (a) running costs and (b) total budget are for the English regional development agencies in 2001–02.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The RDAs' net annual budget and administrative costs (running costs) for the financial year 2001–02 are as follows:
	
		£000 
		
			 Regional development agency Net budget(30) Administration budget 
		
		
			 One North East 161,653 12,853 
			 North West Development Agency 281,089 14,956 
			 Yorkshire Forward 245,437 9,989 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 96,940 7,528 
			 Advantage West Midlands 170,721 8,793 
			 East of England Development Agency 62,113 5,836 
			 South East of England Development Agency 108,859 7,143 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 92,059 9,099 
			 London Development Agency 298,139 9,470 
			  
			 Total 1,517,010 85,667 
		
	
	(30) Excluding receipts
	These are the latest figures available and are excluding receipts. The changes from the original budget reflect in-year additional funding for things such as the Business Recovery fund to help small businesses deal with the foot and mouth crisis and new programmes such as the regional centres of manufacturing excellence.

TREASURY

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The procedures for making complaints under the Civil Service Code are set out in the Treasury Staff Terms and Conditions Handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints with their line manager. If for any reason this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to one of two nominated officials.
	It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this department under paragraph 11 of the Code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints that are resolved within the management line.

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional security measures are planned by his Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has a wide range of measures in place to protect against theft and fraud. These include: physical security measures (security patrols, access control); sound business procedures (restricted access to the payment system, separation of duties, police checks on recruits); protection of assets (system of recording assets, security markings).
	These procedures are regularly reviewed.

Departmental Retirement Ages

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of his Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on flexible retirement.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office is responsible for setting the retirement age for all members of the Senior Civil Service. This is age 60. Heads of Departments and Agency Chief Executives have flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond age 60 if they judge it in the public interest and they are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.
	The policy for all other staff of HM Treasury and its agency the Debt Management Office is that they also retire at age 60.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The information on the number of television sets within a specific technical specification is not held.
	There is no specific advice on the purchase of televisions, apart from the general procurement advice and guidance given on achieving best value for money on any purchase from Government funds.

10-Year Transport Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the total transport 10-year plan financial envelope has been increased by £2.2 billion additional money; and whether it represents new money resulting from discussions between the Treasury and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions;
	(2)  when he allocated an additional £2.2 billion of funding for the 10-year transport plan; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: holding answer 5 February 2002
	In April 2001 an additional provision of £1.962 billion was made to the 10-year transport plan, for payment over the years 2001–02 to 2005–06.
	£770 million has been made available in the Spending Review 2000 period. Decisions on funding the remaining £1.2 billion, due to become payable 2003–04 to 2005–06, will be taken in Spending Review 2002.
	DTLR has allocated £290 million additional funding to the 10-year transport plan from unused rail provision in 2000–01.
	Therefore, as things stand, an additional £2.252 billion has been allocated to the 10-year transport plan since the plan was published in July 2000.

Entertainment Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case;
	(2)  if he will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed.

Ruth Kelly: The information is not held in the format required and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much public money each Capita- administered Government scheme has paid out;
	(2)  how many Government contracts Capita has; and how much these are worth.

Andrew Smith: This information is not held centrally.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government plans to outsource future projects to Capita.

Andrew Smith: Each department is responsible for deciding whether it has outsourcing requirements. In any such procurement, selection would be through competitive tendering and on a value for money basis.

Debt Relief

Andy Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the number of heavily indebted poor countries having to borrow in order to meet the conditions attached to debt relief under that initiative.

Paul Boateng: There is no requirement for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) to borrow in order to qualify for debt relief under the HIPC initiative. A key feature of HIPC is that debt relief should be linked to poverty reduction, and the conditions for the HIPC initiative reflect this.
	In order to qualify for debt relief, countries must develop a nationally-owned and led poverty reduction strategy, which sets out how the country will spend savings from debt relief, together with other resources and aid flows, in order to maximise the impact on poverty reduction.
	For all countries that have qualified for debt relief, the IMF and World bank have carried out a detailed debt sustainability analysis, which Treasury officials, together with colleagues in the Department for International Development, have examined carefully and commented on, taking into account any new concessional borrowing to finance the poverty reduction strategies.
	These analyses underline the critical importance of further financial support for many HIPC countries if they are to achieve the millennium development goals. For this reason the UK Government have been at the forefront of pressing for substantial increase in the global levels of development finance including grants and highly concessional loans. They have also insisted that these analyses are updated to take into account worsening global growth prospects and declines in terms of trade.

Promoting Sport in the Community

John Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken on the proposal contained in the Treasury consultation paper, "Promoting Sport in the Community"; and what were its conclusions.

Paul Boateng: The Government have just concluded their consultation exercise on the best way to support community amateur sports clubs that make a positive contribution to the community. Ministers will be considering the responses to the consultation and as with all policy proposals, an RIA will be carried out if there is a significant impact on business, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines.

Stamp Duty

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason property transactions in Williton, Somerset, are exempt from stamp duty; and for what reason transactions in Brompton Regis, Somerset are not exempt.

Paul Boateng: For England, the stamp duty exemption for disadvantaged areas is available for the 15 per cent. most deprived wards as identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000. In Somerset, the ward of Williton falls within this category but the area of Brompton Regis is not within a qualifying ward.

Housing

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what indicators of housing need the ward-based statistics to be collected by the Office for National Statistics will include.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook for Mr. David Kidney, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on ward based housing need indicators. (34931)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is currently leading the development of a web based Neighbourhood Statistics service which will provide a wide range of information about deprived neighbourhoods, including a number of housing needs indicators. The plan is to introduce this service by March 2004, but the core of the system will be the information that will be available from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing in 2003.
	A prototype of this system is available now on the ONS web site (www.statistics.gov.uk) and this contains ward-based Indices of Deprivation, 2000, compiled from a range of variables. This prototype will be enhanced during 2002.
	A number of housing needs indicators at ward level will be able to be derived from the 2001 Census data, including tenure, sharing, multiple occupation, overcrowding, number of rooms, basic amenities and vacant properties.
	ONS is also working with a range of other Government Departments and Agencies to develop a set of ongoing indicators, including housing needs, as part of the Neighbourhood Statistics Service. These will be introduced from 2004 onwards and will cover, affordability, dwelling stock, unfit housing and disrepair, and vacant properties.

Manufacturing Industry

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in manufacturing industry were lost (a) in each of the past 10 years and (b) in each month in 2001.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Paul Flynn, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about how many jobs in manufacturing industry were lost (a) in each of the past 10 years and (b) in each month in 2001. (34835)
	The information requested is shown in the attached tables. Table 1 shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for 1992 to 2001. Table 2 shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing over the period January to November 2001. Rolling three-month averages are shown to reduce the variability in the data.
	These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk under series identifier YEJL.
	
		Table 1: UK employee jobs in manufacturing (seasonally adjusted) 1992–2001
		
			  Thousand Change over year Percentage change over year 
		
		
			 June 1991 4,372 — — 
			 June 1992 4,146 -226 -5.2 
			 June 1993 3,960 -186 -4.5 
			 June 1994 3,975 15 0.4 
			 June 1995 4,076 101 2.5 
			 June 1996 4,121 45 1.1 
			 June 1997 4,185 64 1.6 
			 June 1998 4,204 19 0.5 
			 June 1999 4,068 -136 -3.2 
			 June 2000 3,965 -103 -2.5 
			 June 2001 3,837 -128 -3.2 
		
	
	
		Table 2: UK employee jobs in manufacturing (seasonally adjusted) 2001
		
			  Levels Change over month Latest 3 months averages Change 3 months on 3 months one year ago Latest 3 months on 3 months one year ago (percentage) 
		
		
			 December 2000 3,896 — — — — 
			 January 2001 3,896 0 3,902 -117 -2.9 
			 February 3,887 -9 3,893 -120 -3.0 
			 March 3,881 -6 3,888 -114 -2.9 
			 April 3,876 -5 3,881 -112 -2.8 
			 May 3,858 -19 3,872 -111 -2.8 
			 June 3,837 -20 3,857 -117 -2.9 
			 July 3,826 -11 3,840 -124 -3.1 
			 August 3,808 -18 3,824 -131 -3.3 
			 September 3,790 -17 3,808 -134 -3.4 
			 October 3,777 -14 3,792 -141 -3.6 
			 November 3,760 -16 3,776 -146 -3.7

Stability and Growth Pact

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his intended policy at the ECOFIN meeting on 12 February regarding the Commission's position on the stability and growth pact.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The UK has consistently said that we support a prudent interpretation of the stability and growth pact, taking into account the economic cycle, sustainability and the important role of public investment.

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 139W, on Fair Trade goods, if he will review during Fair Trade Fortnight the amount of fairly traded goods used in his Department.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury is not participating directly in Fair Trade Fortnight. The Government's contribution is through the Department for International Development, which is providing £120,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation over three years (2001–2003) in support of its efforts to target new groups through its annual Fair Trade Fortnight campaigns.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The number of cases of work-related stress dealt with by the Department's Welfare service was: 11 in the year from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001; and 34 from 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001. No figures are available for 1999–2000.
	No compensation has been paid to employees for work-related stress. The number of working days lost due to work-related stress was: 190 days between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 1999; 230 days between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2000; and 361 days between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001. The information requested about the cost of the number of working days lost due to work-related stress could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Procedures put in place to reduce work-related stress include: a stress audit and follow-up work (cost £44,240); the provision of a staff welfare and counselling service (cost £31,900 per year); stress management training (cost £3,525) and complementary therapies (cost £2,350).

Lamfalussy Report

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the Government will be making to the European Council at Barcelona on the implementation of the Lamfalussy report; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government note as a positive step forward recent agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on Lamfalussy implementation. We believe it is now important to get on and implement the main Lamfalussy recommendations. In particular, it is important to ensure that consultation and transparency is part of the process for EC securities legislation; to prioritise those legislative measures that will deliver an effective single market; and to ensure that legislation is principles-based and flexible.

Welsh GDP

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate changes in the proportion of Welsh GDP as a percentage of the UK economy in 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Adam Price, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on estimating the proportion of Welsh Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a percentage of the UK economy in 2001. (35625)
	The latest data available are for the year 1999, and were published as an ONS News Release on 27 February 2001.
	These data show that in 1999 Wales accounted for 4 per cent. of the UK GDP (excluding Extra-Regio—this comprises compensation of employees and gross operating surplus which cannot be assigned to regions).
	The ONS is currently compiling estimates for data up to the year 2000. We plan to publish these estimates later in the spring.
	The publication referred to in this answer is available in the House of Commons Library and on the ONS website at http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/regionalaccounts.

Personal Pensions

Peter Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what compensation proposals will be forthcoming in respect of those persons who have opted out of SERPS and who had their pension policies affected by delayed payments from the Treasury, as a result of the computer error last year.

Ruth Kelly: Where there is a delay in paying age related rebates to those with appropriate personal pensions, compensation will be considered where it can be demonstrated that a loss has been suffered. The Inland Revenue can consider and pay compensation under their Financial Redress Scheme.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has made to departmental expenditure ceilings within the controlled total for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 since the Budget.

Andrew Smith: The Government will seek any resources additional to departmental budgets in the usual way through the Supply process, which includes the announcement to Parliament of additions to Departmental Expenditure Limits via parliamentary answers.

GDP/Revenues Ratio

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the ratio of (a) income tax revenue and (b) national insurance revenue to GDP if GDP is (i) 1 per cent. above trend and (ii) 1 per cent. below trend in (1) the first, (2) the second and (3) subsequent years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The Government's estimate of the impact of the economic cycle on the public finances is set out in "Fiscal policy: public finances and the cycle" (HM Treasury, March 1999).

Reputational Externalities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 705W, on reputational externalities, if he will state the reasoning underlying the statements concerning reputational externalities made to the National Audit Office reported on in footnote 10 and paragraphs 44–45 of HC54 of Session 2000–01 'The financial analysis of the London Underground Public Private Partnerships'; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: I presume the hon. Member is referring to footnote 8 in the said document. The comments contained in the NAO report are self- explanatory. The hon. Member will find details of the financial analysis behind the value for money appraisal of the London Underground PPP in the final assessment report produced by London Underground.

Departmental Underspend

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' underspending against the departmental expenditure limits in the last four years.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has only been in existence since June 2001, so does not have such historical information. It is forecast that budgets will be fully utilised during the current financial year.

Public Bodies (Resources)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources were made available to the (a) Disability Rights Commission, (b) Equal Opportunities Commission and (c) Commission for Racial Equality in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Details of the funding, staffing and expenditure of public bodies, and the remuneration of board members, are set out in the annual publication "Public Bodies".
	Copies of "Public Bodies 1999" and "Public Bodies 2000" are available in the Libraries of the House. "Public Bodies 2001" will be published shortly. The Disability Rights Commission was established on 25 April 2000.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the 2001 pre-Budget report, if he will estimate the distribution by household income quintile of the additional expenditure arising from the introduction of the state pension credit.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		Proportion of additional expenditure arising form the introduction of the State Pension Credit by household income quintile -- Percentage
		
			 Household income quintile Proportion of additional expenditure from State Pension Credit (after housing costs quintiles) Proportion of additional expenditure from State Pension Credit (before housing costs quintiles) 
		
		
			  
			 Lowest 30 35 
			 2 48 43 
			 3 16 15 
			 4 5 5 
			 Highest 1 0 
			 All 100 100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.
	2. The largest proportion of expenditure goes to households in the second quintile because there are more pensioner benefit units in the second household income quintile.
	Source:
	DWP Policy Simulation Model 2001–02 based on 1999–2000 Family Resources Survey.
	Pension credit will help tackle poverty among today's pensioners, without discouraging future pensioners from saving. It will provide a decent income in retirement and a reward for those who have saved.
	For the first time, we will reward savings, ensuring those who have worked hard to save modest amounts, who are more likely to be in the second quintile, will gain from having done so.

Savings Credit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if pensioners' earnings will qualify for the savings credit.

Ian McCartney: Our intention is to ensure pensioners are rewarded for their effort. We are continuing to consider the treatment of earnings in pension credit.

Stakeholder Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve uptake of stakeholder pensions.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 31 January 2002
	Stakeholder pension sales of over 600,000 in the first nine months on the market are a very encouraging start. In addition, figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show 312,096 employers had designated stakeholder pension schemes for their staff by the end of December 2001.
	The sales of stakeholder pension have had a wider impact, ABI figures show increased new pension sales of 9 per cent. for the quarter July-September 2001 amounting to £2.8 billion. Regular premium pension business rose by 50 per cent. to £584 million on the same period last year, and new single premium pension policies rose by 2 per cent. to £2.2 billion.
	We are also working to provide information to help people make informed decisions about saving for their retirement. We have already greatly improved the general pension information available by actively promoting our series of pension education guides. In addition, we are working in partnership with employers and pension providers to introduce new pension forecasts giving both state and private pension details.

Benefits

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a new claim for the (a) working families tax credit and (b) jobseeker's allowance was in the last six months.

Malcolm Wicks: For the six months ending 31 December 2001 the average time taken to process a working families tax credit application was 15.2 working days and the average time taken to process a claim to jobseeker's allowance was 9.7 working days.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the regulations that govern the arrangements for electing trustees to the boards of occupational pension schemes.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 1 February 2002
	Changes to the Member-nominated Trustee and Director requirements were introduced in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. We have been working on a package of regulations that would give effect to the changes, but need to ensure that they are consistent with the findings of the review of private pensions legislation that was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 26 September.
	We have, therefore, decided to wait until the review team reports in July, and we have had time to consider their findings.
	We shortly will be consulting on draft regulations that will allow schemes to continue with their present arrangements for the time being.

Industrial Action (Jobcentre Plus)

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of staff at the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service took part in the recent industrial action; and what steps he is taking to resolve the dispute.

Nick Brown: holding answer 5 February 2002
	On average 23,635 members of staff, out of a total of 100,000 across the Benefits Agency and Employment Service, took part in industrial action on 28 and 29 January 2002. This represents approximately one quarter of the combined total of staff in the two agencies. The figures on strike were down from the December action when an average of 27,538 members of staff took part.
	To date, more than 60 hours of negotiations (spanning 17 meetings) have taken place with the PCS union in an attempt to settle the current safety dispute. A set of proposals aimed at resolving the dispute was put to the union on 17 October. Despite the recommendation of the union's negotiators, these proposals were rejected by the PCS National Executive Committee by a small margin.
	The PCS tabled its own proposals on which the dispute might be settled in December. The PCS proposals were considered carefully and two meetings were held with the union. However, the proposals ran contrary to the Government's policy that Jobcentre Plus should be delivered in a predominantly unscreened environment. The delivery of a personalised, customer-focused service in a predominantly unscreened environment, supported by enhanced security measures, is central to the new Jobcentre Plus service.
	The proposals on offer last October, save for those that have been overtaken by time, remain on the table. These include details of which services are appropriate for dealing from screened areas, revised risk assessments, enhanced job specifications for security guards, and a review, involving the PCS, of the operation of the Pathfinders. The proposals continue to offer a basis for a negotiated settlement to the dispute.

Code of Practice (Disability Rights)

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Disability Rights Commission's revised Code of Practice on rights of access to goods, services, facilities and premises will come into force.

Maria Eagle: The revised Code of Practice on rights of access to goods, services, facilities and premises will come into force on 27 May 2002 following the making of an Order. It will be an invaluable guide for service providers in helping them understand the new duties and will enable them to plan now to ensure that physical barriers for disabled people can be overcome from 2004.

Minimum Incomes

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines on the minimum incomes for healthy living for (a) pregnant women, (b) families, (c) single adults and (d) pensioners (i) before and (ii) after rent and council tax his Department (A) takes into account and (B) provides to other Government departments when decisions are being made about the levels of (1) council tax, (2) income tax, (3) housing and council tax benefits, (4) income support and jobseeker's allowance, (5) working families tax credit and (6) the minimum wage.

Malcolm Wicks: The levels of social security benefits are reviewed each year and approved by Parliament. A range of factors is considered when reviewing benefit levels. The Department does not produce guidelines on minimum incomes.

Income Support

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the value of (a) expenditure (i) in cash terms and (ii) in current prices and (b) expenditure as a share of GDP on income support for the over-60s for 1992–93 and each succeeding year to the end of the public expenditure planning period.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table.
	
		Expenditure income support for the elderly/minimum income guarantee -- £ million
		
			  Cash terms Real terms Percentage of GDP 
		
		
			 1992–93 3,728 4,649 0.6 
			 1993–94 3,939 4,794 0.6 
			 1994–95 3,969 4,767 0.6 
			 1995–96 3,888 4,540 0.5 
			 1996–97 3,815 4,318 0.5 
			 1997–98 3,773 4,143 0.5 
			 1998–99 3,619 3,866 0.4 
			 1999–2000 3,781 3,943 0.4 
			 2000–01 4,067 4,169 0.4 
			 2001–02 4,532 4,532 0.5 
			 2002–03 4,329 4,223 0.4 
			 2003–04 5,176 4,927 0.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are consistent with those published in the pre-Budget report 2000
	2. Figures for 2003–04 include expenditure on Pension Credit

Pensioners Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the value of expenditure (a) in cash terms, (b) in current prices and (c) as a share of GDP on (i) retirement pensions, (ii) winter fuel payments, (iii) means-tested benefits for pensioners, (iv) all other benefits for pensioners and (v) free TV licences for 1992–93 and each succeeding year to the end of the public expenditure planning period.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the tables:
	
		Cash terms -- £ million
		
			  1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 26,740 28,220 28,780 30,000 32,025 33,585 
			 Winter fuel payments 0 0 0 0 0 190 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners(31) 7,315 8,100 8,370 8,550 8,635 8,650 
			 All other benefits for pensioners(32) 4,770 5,455 5,680 6,030 6,325 6,370 
			 Concessionary TV licences 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Total 38,830 41,770 42,830 44,580 46,985 48,795 
		
	
	
		£ million 
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 35,605 37,800 38,825 42,035 44,355 46,450 
			 Winter fuel payments 195 910 1,680 1,700 1,700 1,720 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners(31) 8,605 8,980 9,520 10,410 10,430 11,630 
			 All other benefits for pensioners(32) 6,425 6,430 6,760 7,005 7,160 7,435 
			 Concessionary TV licences 0 0 320 345 365 380 
			  
			 Total 50,825 54,125 57,105 61,495 64,015 67,610 
		
	
	
		Real terms -- £ million 2001–02 prices
		
			  1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 33,345 34,340 34,565 35,030 36,250 36,880 
			 Winter fuel payments 0 0 0 0 0 210 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners(31) 9,075 9,805 10,015 9,925 9,730 9,475 
			 All other benefits for pensioners(32) 6,000 6,685 6,860 7,100 7,205 7,015 
			 Concessionary TV licences 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Total 48,420 50,835 51,440 52,055 53,185 53,585 
		
	
	
		£ million 2001–02 prices 
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 38,035 39,430 39,795 42,035 43,270 44,210 
			 Winter fuel payments 210 950 1,725 1,700 1,660 1,635 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners(31) 9,165 9,345 9,730 10,375 10,140 11,035 
			 All other benefits for pensioners(32) 6,885 6,730 6,960 7,035 7,025 7,110 
			 Concessionary TV licences 0 0 330 345 355 360 
			  
			 Total 54,295 56,455 58,535 61,495 62,455 64,355 
		
	
	(31) Figures for mean-tested benefits for the pensioner group include payments made to those aged 60 to 65.
	(32) 'All other benefits for pensioners' includes payments of disability and bereavement benefits and Christmas bonus to those of pension age.
	Notes:
	1. Amounts are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
	2. Totals may not appear to sum due to rounding.
	
		Percentage of GDP
		
			  1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 
			 Winter fuel payments 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 
			 All other benefits for pensioners 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 
			 Concessionary TV licences (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			  
			 Total 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.1 6.1 5.9 
		
	
	
		Percentage of GDP
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Retirement pensions 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.2 
			 Winter fuel payments 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Means-tested benefits for pensioners 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 
			 All other benefits for pensioners 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 
			 Concessionary TV licences (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			  
			 Total 5.9 5.9 6.0 6.2 6.1 6.2 
		
	
	(33) Less than 0.1 per cent.

Pensioners Incomes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receiving one or more means-tested benefit have a weekly income of (a) up to £100, (b) £101 to £120, (c) £121 to £140, (d) £140 to £160, (e) £160 to £180, (f) £180 to £200, (g) £200 to £220, (h) £220 to £240 per week, (i) £240 to £260, (j) £260 to £280, (k) £280 to £300 and (l) over £300 per week.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table:
	
		Number of pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits by weekly -- income band: Great Britain, May 2000
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 Total number of pensioners 3,250,000 
			 Up to £100 weekly income 480,000 
			 Between £100 and £119.99 weekly income 220,000 
			 Between £120 and £139.99 weekly income 630,000 
			 Between £140 and £159.99 weekly income 540,000 
			 Between £160 and £179.99 weekly income 390,000 
			 Between £180 and £199.99 weekly income 280,000 
			 Between £200 and £219.99 weekly income 220,000 
			 Between £220 and £239.99 weekly income 190,000 
			 Between £240 and £259.99 weekly income 110,000 
			 Between £260 and £279.99 weekly income 70,000 
			 Between £280 and £299.99 weekly income 30,000 
			 £300 and over weekly income 80,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
	2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. Due to the estimation procedure to produce the figures, they have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
	4. Pensioners are defined as a benefit unit where either the claimant and/or the partner are aged 60 and over.
	5. Overlaps between jobseeker's allowance, minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit have been removed to calculate the total number of benefit units.
	6. Includes income declared for the assessment of means-tested benefits (including disregarded income).
	Sources:
	1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2000.
	2. Income support 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 2000.
	3. Jobseeker's allowance 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry May 2000.

PRIME MINISTER

Honours List

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons (a) knighted (or equivalent) and (b) admitted to each rank of the orders of chivalry in the recent New Year's honours list were honoured for their contribution as (i) employees of Her Majesty's Government or of a Government-sponsored organisation, (ii) employees of local government or of a local government-sponsored organisation, (iii) private sector employees, (iv) voluntary sector employees, (v) health service employees, (vi) staff of schools and (vii) volunteers.

Tony Blair: The information available is as follows:
	(i) Five State Servants were honoured at Knight/Dame level in the new year honours list—2002, 30 at CB, CMG or CBE, 38 at OBE and 64 at MBE. It is not possible to readily identify employees of Government sponsored organisations.
	(ii) Among local government employees, including police officers and fire fighters, there were one Knighthood, four CBEs, six OBEs and 28 MBEs. Figures for people employed by local government sponsored organisations cannot be readily identified.
	(iii) It is not possible to identify from the names on the list those people who are employed in the private sector, many of whom will have been honoured because of what they have done outside their place of employment.
	(iv) The list does not distinguish between paid and unpaid workers in the voluntary sector. Overall, people from the voluntary sector accounted for almost half of those on the list.
	(v) For NHS employees there were two awards at Knight/Dame, four at CBE, 16 at OBE and 24 at MBE. The list also recognised the contribution made by many other people in the health sector, such as members of the Red Cross and the St. John's Ambulance Brigade.
	(vi) Two members of school staff were honoured at Knight/Dame, three at CBE, 11 at OBE and 25 at MBE. There were also a significant number of awards elsewhere in the educational field, for example to people involved in further and higher education and vocational training.

Honours List

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland were (a) knighted or equivalent and (b) admitted to each rank of the orders of chivalry in each Honours List since May 1997.

Tony Blair: This information is not held in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the following table shows the number of awards made on my recommendation in each county in Northern Ireland since June 1999.
	
		Numbers of Honours recipients in each county
		
			 County KCB DBE Kt CB CBE OBE MBE 
		
		
			 Antrim (including Belfast)
			 Birthday 1999 — — — — 1 5 16 
			 New year 2000 — — 1 — 2 13 43 
			 Birthday 2000 — 1 — — 5 7 24 
			 New year 2001 — — 1 — 2 15 18 
			 Birthday 2001 — 1 1 — — 6 22 
			 New year 2002 — — 1 1 1 8 20 
			 
			 Armagh
			 Birthday 1999 — — — — — — 4 
			 New year 2000 — — — — — 1 2 
			 Birthday 2000 — — — — — — 2 
			 New year 2001 — — — — — 1 4 
			 Birthday 2001 — — — — — 1 2 
			 New year 2002 — — — — — 1 3 
			 
			 Down
			 Birthday 1999 — — — 1 3 5 13 
			 New year 2000 — — — 2 1 6 12 
			 Birthday 2000 1 — — — — 5 8 
			 New year 2001 — — — — 2 6 13 
			 Birthday 2001 — — — 2 2 3 11 
			 New year 2002 — — — — 3 6 10 
			 
			 Fermanagh
			 Birthday 1999 — — — — — 1 1 
			 New year 2000 — — — — — 1 2 
			 Birthday 2000 — — — — — — 1 
			 New year 2001 — — — — — — 1 
			 Birthday 2001 — — — — — 1 1 
			 New year 2002 — — — — — — 1 
			 
			 Londonderry
			 Birthday 1999 — — — — — 2 3 
			 New year 2000 — — — — — 1 4 
			 Birthday 2000 — 1 — — 1 — 4 
			 New year 2001 — — — — — — 6 
			 Birthday 2001 — — — — — 1 3 
			 New year 2002 — — — — 1 3 6 
			 
			 Tyrone
			 Birthday 1999 — — — — — 3 3 
			 New year 2000 — — — — — — 5 
			 Birthday 2000 — — — — 1 — 2 
			 New year 2001 — — — — — — 2 
			 Birthday 2001 — — — — — 1 6 
			 New year 2002 — — — — — — 3

Suez Emergency 1951–54

Paul Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects the Chairman of the Honours and Decorations Committee to conclude his review of the 1951 to 1954 Suez Emergency and its recognition by way of a General Service Medal.

Tony Blair: The Committee on the Grants of Honours, Decorations and Medals is aware of the past history of the case and of the representations currently being made for a medal. It is considering these representations very carefully.

Departmental Retirement Ages

Steve Webb: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of his office and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on flexible retirement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 59–60W.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the policy of his Office is for ensuring responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are completed within 40 days; and what their procedure is to achieve this;
	(2)  what the period of time elapsed is for the oldest outstanding request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998, since receipt of the (a) original request and (b) administration fee;
	(3)  what his estimate is of the average cost of processing each information request under the Data Protection Act 1998;
	(4)  what administration fees are charged by his Office for information requests made under the Data Protection Act 1998;
	(5)  what percentage of responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 No. 10 has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of the £10 fee, (b) between 40 and 60 days of and (c) over 60 days after receiving the administration fee;
	(6)  how many requests the Department has received under the Data Protection Act 1998 for (a) electronically held information and (b) paper documentation;
	(7)  how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 his Office has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of the £10 administration fee, (b) between 40 and 60 days of and (c) over 60 days after receiving the administration fee;
	(8)  how many responses the Department has completed to requests for information made under the Data Protection Act 1998 for (a) electronically held information and (b) paper documentation;
	(9)  what the longest period of time elapsed is between receiving (a) the administration fee and providing the information requested and (b) a request for information and providing the information requested, under the Data Protection Act 1998;
	(10)  what his procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been completed (a) within 40 days, (b) between 40 and 60 days and (c) over 60 days after receiving the original letter; and how many are still outstanding;

Tony Blair: Our policy is to respond to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 as quickly and as accurately as possible and in accordance with the data protection principles.
	For the purposes of the Act the Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. The responsibility for co-ordinating responses to requests for information under the Act falls to the Cabinet Office Openness Unit. They arrange searches for personal data from relevant parts of the Department in accordance with the provisions of the Act and collate and send the responses.
	The Act requires that a response be sent to anyone seeking information under the Act within 40 calendar days of sufficient information being received to verify the identity of the applicant and the location of the information being sought. The Cabinet Office procedures for handling requests for information under the Act are designed to ensure that wherever possible responses are sent within 40 days. Although the Act permits an administration fee of up to £10 to be charged, it is not currently the Cabinet Office policy to levy such a fee.
	Since 1 March 2000, when the Act came into force, the Cabinet Office has responded to 24 requests for information within 40 days (83 per cent.), three between 40 and 60 days (10 per cent.) and two over 60 days (7 per cent.), with the longest being 86 days. This excludes those cases where the request was redirected to another Department, or the Cabinet Office has asked for further information from the applicant and no response was received. At present the Cabinet Office has four requests outstanding, one of which was received over 40 days ago.
	Those making requests for information under the Act do not usually distinguish between the format in which the personal data are held when submitting a request. The time and effort required to process a request under the Act varies considerably depending on the nature and complexity of the request and no estimate is available of the average cost.

Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Tony Blair: My office published three Government annual reports. For the costs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 18 July 2001, Official Report, column 206W.
	All three reports were laid before Parliament. They were published through the Stationary Office, and are available on the internet. The 1998–99 and 1999–2000 reports were also available through Tesco and W. H. Smith.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Tony Blair: In respect of my Office, none for the last four financial years.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 26W, which said that no items valued at more than £50 had been stolen or lost from my office in the last four financial years.

African Visit

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what sales of UK-produced defence equipment he proposes to promote during his forthcoming visit to African countries; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 11 February 2002.

Performance and Innovation Unit

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the dates of meetings that (a) special advisers and (b) Members of the Performance and Innovation Unit have had since 7 June 2001 with representatives of Seeboard; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the dates of meetings that (a) his special advisers and (b) members of the Performance and Innovation Unit have had since 1 January 1999 with representatives of Global Crossing; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will place the records kept of contacts between his special advisers and the media concerning the Performance and Innovation Unit energy review in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Nigeria

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria regarding ethnic violence in Lagos.

Tony Blair: I expressed my concern and sympathy to President Obasanjo when I saw him on 7 February. We support the Nigerian Government in their efforts to reduce the long-standing ethnic and religious tensions which underlie this and several other outbreaks of violence in recent months. The UK sponsors a number of projects aimed at reconciliation between different ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria.

UN Convention on Children's Rights

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's report on the Implementation of the UN Convention on Children's Rights to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; and for what reason.

Tony Blair: The Children and Young People's Unit, reporting to the Minister for Children and Young People at the Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) will be responsible for co-ordinating the Government's next report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is a cross-departmental unit responsible for ensuring the coherence of the Government's policies for children and young people. It is therefore best placed to co-ordinate the Government's report.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last four years.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 406W.
	In DEFRA we are unable to easily identify taxi fares as a separate item. The coding used to identify transactions groups travel by taxi with other forms of public transport (eg buses and underground), and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate costs.

Fuel Poverty

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of fuel poverty in the ethnic minority communities; and if she will commission a study.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 5 February 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates suggest that the incidence of fuel poverty in England varies according to the ethnic group of the head of household. The 1996 English House Condition Survey estimated that the incidence of fuel poverty among white households was broadly similar to the average for all households in England in 1996 of about 22 per cent. The incidence of fuel poverty among black households was about 27 per cent. with that among Asian households estimated to be about 19 per cent.
	The 2001 English House Condition Survey will update this information and the information on the extent of fuel poverty in England generally.
	Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Agricultural Land

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of Grades 1, 2 and 3 agricultural land (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the Buckingham constituency were lost to development in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: The area of particular grades of agricultural land lost to development in England and Wales is not monitored on a systematic basis, partly because not all agricultural land has been surveyed by grade.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and her Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: One member of staff (formerly of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions) was seconded to Shell in September 2000.

Rural White Paper

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 848W, when the consolidated list concerning (a) the Rural White Paper and (b) other departmental indicators will be placed in the Library.

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 847W, when the consolidated list on the Rural White Paper's headline indicators will be placed in the Library.

Alun Michael: The consolidated list of research into Rural White Paper headline indicators has been sent to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

LGC

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 240W, on genotype test errors, what plans she has to review the work carried out by LGC on the potential contamination of sheep brains with bovine material in October 2001.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	No errors were made by LGC in the tests of sheep and cow brains used for BSE research. An error had previously been reported on an entirely different test on sheep blood samples which used a robotic sampling system. The cross-checking genetic test of the brains in the flawed IAH experiment did not use this robotic system and was performed at a different laboratory at the LGC. LGC have performed an internal audit of this and are satisfied that the sheep and cow brains samples were correctly handled and that the results can be traced back to the correct samples.

Ashmoor Pit, Petrockstowe

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the retrospective Environmental Impact Assessment of the Ashmoor Pit, Petrockstowe will be published.

Elliot Morley: The draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been circulated for comment and Devon county council, among others, has offered some constructive comments. The future of the Ashmoor pit is currently being discussed with local interests and the EIA will be prepared for publication upon conclusion of those discussions.

Thames Flood Barrier

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates she has made of the number of years of protection afforded to London by the Thames Flood Barrier; when these estimates were made; and when they were last reviewed.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The Thames Barrier is the largest component of the complex system of gates, walls and embankments which form the tidal defences to London and the Thames Estuary. The Barrier is a robust and flexible installation with a design based on rates of sea level rise predicted in the 1970s which were higher than those currently anticipated. It provides London with a high level of protection from tidal flooding and with normal care and maintenance should continue to do so until at least the latter half of this century. Even then, although the Barrier may need to be closed more frequently, it will continue to fulfil its primary function. This conclusion was confirmed in the Environment Agency's latest annual review in November 2001.
	The Environment Agency is currently developing its Thames tidal defence strategy for the next one hundred years, with several studies already in progress.

Civil Servants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out for each Civil Service grade within her Department the (a) total number of staff employed and (b) the number aged (i) 16 to 25, (ii) 26 to 35, (iii) 36 to 45, (iv) 46 to 60 and (v) over the age of 60 years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	The number of permanent and casual staff employed in the Department for Environment, Food and rural Affairs by grade equivalent and by age band is set out in the table. These figures exclude staff in the Department's executive agencies.
	
		
			  Age  
			 Grade 16–25 26–35 36–45 46–60 Over 60 Total 
		
		
			 SCS 0 1 36 103 2 142 
			 Grade 6 0 2 20 83 1 106 
			 Grade 7 0 55 145 247 2 449 
			 SEO 3 116 298 342 8 767 
			 HEO 37 302 430 331 8 1,108 
			 EO 285 708 552 405 13 1,963 
			 AO 640 692 510 601 69 2,512 
			 AA 336 203 202 312 48 1,101 
			 Total 1,301 2,079 2,193 2,424 151 8,148

Correspondence

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she will reply to the letter of 18 November 2001 from Ms Anne Parker concerning the implementation of the recommendations of Task Force for the Hills;
	(2)  when the Director of the Government Office for the north west will reply to the letter of 18 November from Ms Anne Parker concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force for the Hills.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 January 2002
	A response was sent to Ms Anne Parker on 6 February 2002.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) parliamentary questions, (b) letters and (c) other representations she has received from hon. Members regarding delays in responding to correspondence in 2001–02.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	At 31 January 2002, the Department had received 83 parliamentary questions from hon. Members regarding delays in responding to correspondence in this session.
	Our correspondence database can not easily identify those letters received from hon. Members regarding delays in responding to their correspondence. Since the beginning of this Session the Department has received a total of 7,029 letters from hon. Members and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate costs.
	We have no records of other representations received.

Meat Imports

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff (a) are employed examining meat imports into the United Kingdom; and (b) were so employed in each of the last six years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 February 2002
	All products of animal origin imported from third countries into the UK must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections. The inspection services at the BIP are the responsibility of the local authority or port health authority and it is for the appropriate local authority to deploy inspection staff at the BIP in response to the volume and nature of products imported through the BIP. For this reason the exact number of inspectors engaged in checking imports can vary from day-to-day. Most of these staff also undertake a range of other duties. As at November 2001 the total number of local authority staff employed at BIPs was 196 comprising 97 Environmental Health Officers, 48 Official Veterinary Surgeons and 51 support staff. Figures are not available for previous years.
	HM Customs officers also carry out checks for the presence of illegally imported meat and other animal products in passengers' luggage. In addition, State Veterinary Service staff are also empowered to deal with illegally imported animal products when they are found.

Meat Imports

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many consignments of imported meat products have been rejected on inspection, and from which countries they originated, in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 5 February 2002
	The table provided covers rejected consignments of red meat and red meat products from third countries from January 1997 to June 2001. Information is not yet available for the second half of 2001. The total number of consignments rejected is 119 in 1997, 140 in 1998, 175 in 1999, 196 in 2000 and 149 in the first six months of 2001.
	
		Rejected consignments of imported meat and meat products from January 1997 to June 2001
		
			 Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 January to June 2001 Total by country 
		
		
			 Argentina 2 3 2 17 4 28 
			 Australia 1 3 10 1 1 16 
			 Bangladesh 2 1 0 2 0 5 
			 Barbados 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Belarus 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Botswana 0 0 0 1 2 3 
			 Brazil 0 7 8 13 12 40 
			 Brunei 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Cameroon 4 1 4 1 0 10 
			 Canada 3 1 3 3 1 11 
			 Chile 0 0 1 1 0 2 
			 China 0 1 1 4 7 13 
			 Colombia 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Congo 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Croatia 0 1 1 0 0 2 
			 Cyprus 0 0 2 0 0 2 
			 Egypt 1 1 1 1 0 4 
			 Ethiopia 2 0 1 0 1 4 
			 Estonia 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Gambia 1 4 3 2 11 21 
			 Ghana 27 9 7 7 8 58 
			 Grenada 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Guinea 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Guyana 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Honduras 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Hong Kong 3 2 5 5 3 18 
			 Hungary 1 0 0 1 0 2 
			 India 1 0 0 0 3 4 
			 Indonesia 1 1 1 0 0 3 
			 Israel 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Ivory Coast 0 0 5 3 1 9 
			 Japan 5 6 6 6 1 24 
			 Jordan 0 0 1 1 1 3 
			 Kenya 1 3 3 0 1 8 
			 Korea 4 1 4 1 2 12 
			 Kuwait 0 1 0 1 0 2 
			 Lebanon 1 1 0 0 1 3 
			 Liberia 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Liechtenstein 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Malawi 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Malaysia 5 8 6 5 1 25 
			 Malta 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Mauritius 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Mexico 0 1 0 0 7 8 
			 Morocco 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Namibia 0 0 4 0 0 4 
			 Nepal 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 New Zealand 1 4 5 5 2 17 
			 Nigeria 9 16 12 13 9 59 
			 Oman 1 1 0 1 0 3 
			 Pakistan 2 0 0 1 1 4 
			 Philippines 0 1 1 2 1 5 
			 Poland 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Qatar 0 0 1 0 3 4 
			 Russia 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Saudi Arabia 3 1 2 0 3 9 
			 Seychelles 0 0 1 0 1 2 
			 Sierra Leone 3 1 0 0 0 4 
			 Singapore 2 7 19 1 1 30 
			 South Africa 5 10 2 3 1 21 
			 Sri Lanka 0 1 1 0 0 2 
			 St. Lucia 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 St. Vincent 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Switzerland 0 1 4 2 0 7 
			 Syria 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Taiwan 0 1 1 3 4 9 
			 Thailand 3 1 7 4 3 18 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Tunisia 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Turkey 0 1 0 2 0 3 
			 United Arab Emirates 3 9 9 5 5 31 
			 United States of America 17 22 24 60 38 161 
			 Uruguay 0 0 3 4 0 7 
			 Vietnam 0 0 1 2 1 4 
			 Yemen 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Zambia 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Zaire 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Zimbabwe 1 0 0 3 0 4 
			 Total by year 119 140 175 196 149

Meat Imports

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the controls on the import and labelling of meat.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Since April last year we have taken a range of initiatives aimed at improving our ability to prevent and detect illegal imports. These include better publicity and more effective intelligence gathering. These initiatives have been co-ordinated by officials in DEFRA, but involve other Departments such as HM Customs and Excise and the Food Standards Agency, and the local authorities who are responsible for controls at ports and airports.
	The Food Standards Agency is pressing for changes to EU labelling rules to require country of origin labelling on a wider range of foods, particularly meat products. It is also pressing for changes that would prevent misleading labelling by restricting the use of terms like "produce of . . ." to those foods where the main ingredients come from, and production processes occur in, the named place or country.

Farm Produce

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of farm gate prices of farm produce are less than the cost of production.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 January 2002
	The cost of production and the farm gate price of any particular commodity vary from producer to producer and over time. It is not possible therefore to determine a fixed proportion of the farm gate price that is attributable to the cost of production. At the whole farm level, the incidence of selling at below the cost of production is indicated by data from the Farm Business Survey. They show the incidence of negative farm incomes, where total costs exceed total output from the farm. In 1999–2000, 36 per cent. of farms in the Farm Business Survey in England had negative net farm incomes.

Sheep Annual Premium

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the sheep annual premium scheme application forms were changed between 2001 and 2002; how many farmers have made mistakes as a result of these changes; and whether farmers have been able to appeal against decisions based on incorrectly completed forms.

Elliot Morley: The Sheep Annual Premium Scheme (SAPS) application forms are reviewed annually to take account of any regulatory changes, and to take account of comments from producers and to see if there is any way they can be simplified. There have been no major changes from the 2001, to the 2002 forms (such as the addition or deletion of questions), however minor amendments were made to the format and wording of some questions, to assist the industry. For the 2001 scheme there were approximately 30,000 SAPS claimants, each received a questionnaire in the literature pack and was invited to comment on the scheme literature. Around 20 per cent. of applicants took the opportunity to comment, and we used these comments when drafting the 2002 scheme literature, before sending the drafts out for industry consultation over the summer. As in the past the exercise will be repeated this year, although the 2003 scheme literature should change considerably, following the reform of the Sheepmeat regime, agreed in Brussels in December 2001. The reforms have simplified the scheme, and will give us the opportunity to thoroughly review the scheme literature (which has changed only gradually since 1992).
	The application window for the 2002 scheme has just closed, as a result we will not know for some time (until the claims are processed in spring) how many producers have made errors on their application forms. Staff undertake an initial check of the application forms on receipt, and any obvious errors are brought to the attention of claimants, who then have the opportunity to amend their forms, until the extended deadline for the receipt of claims on 1 March 2002. In the case of errors discovered after 1 March, while the Commission recognise the concept of 'obvious errors' in relation to the completion of application forms, it does so in a very restrictive manner. Thus, while we can accept simple cases of clerical error (eg transcription of numbers; omission and inconsistencies) we cannot extend this approach to cover errors of substance.
	Producers who make an error on their claim form which subsequently affects their payment are able to appeal to the office handling their claim. They may also write to the Rural Payments Agency's Customers Relations Manager, and are of course free to write to their MP, who in turn may refer their case to the relevant Minister, or the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Farmers

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list by administrative region in England and Wales the amounts paid to farmers in each of the last five years for (a) each CAP scheme and (b) UK schemes for which she is responsible.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 21 January 2002
	Pursuant to the right hon. Member's similar question answered on 11 January 2002, Official Report, column 1040W, to which I was only able to provide a holding answer, the amounts paid for CAP schemes in England, for the periods in question are now available in the Library of the House.

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage participation by her Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Elliot Morley: Campaigns, such as the annual Fair Trade Fortnight organised by the Fair Trade Foundation, help to raise consumer awareness of development issues in international trade as well as highlighting ways in which consumers can act to make a difference. The Department for International Development is providing £120,000 to the Fair Trade Foundation over three years (2001–03) in support of its efforts to target new groups through its annual Fair Trade Fortnight campaigns, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development will be attending the launch of this year's campaign on 4 March 2002.

Exmoor National Park

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will provide funds to the Exmoor national park to help with the damage caused by foot and mouth disease.

Alun Michael: For the coming financial year Exmoor national park will receive £2.93 million from Government, an increase of 13.6 per cent. on the current financial year. Considerable support has been given to rural communities to aid recovery following foot and mouth disease, including an £80 million business recovery fund and other forms of financial support which will have helped many businesses within national parks.
	We are providing extra resources to all the national park authorities in England to help with the aftermath of the foot and mouth epidemic. We have already provided funds this year through the Countryside Agency to reopen rights of way in affected areas, including Exmoor.
	We are confident that the resources provided will help the national parks promote a vigorous recovery in the countryside.

ESA Payments

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the time it takes for Environmentally sensitive areas payments to be made to farmers; and how many farmers are awaiting payment.

Elliot Morley: The Department aims to pay valid claims under the ESA scheme within two months of their receipt. In the most recent payment round, 89 per cent. of claims under ESA management agreements had been authorised for payment by 31 January 2002. On that date, 702 claims were awaiting authorisation for payment and these should be processed shortly.

ESA Payments

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans for the provision of ESA payments.

Elliot Morley: Proposed funding for the ESA scheme is set out in the England Rural Development Programme which covers the period 2000 to 2006. There are now 11,300 agreement holders under the scheme. The Department aims to make annual payments to them within two months of receiving valid claims.

Departmental Strikes

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days were lost in strike action in her Department (a) in Somerset and Devon and (b) in the UK in 2000–01.

Elliot Morley: There were no days lost through strike action throughout 2000–01 in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (then referred to as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food).
	During 2001–02, days lost due to strike action in the Department were (a) 2895 in offices in the counties of Somerset and Devon, (b) 16,201 in the UK overall.

Departmental Expenditure

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's total expenditure by month in the financial years (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 692W.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the (a) Disease Control System Database and (b) Veterinary Laboratory Agency foot and mouth disease case database.

Elliot Morley: Quality assurance and validation processes have been built into the routine procedures for maintaining the accuracy and completeness of both databases. Detailed guidance and training is available to all relevant staff.
	A quality assurance exercise of the data within DCS is currently being carried out and whilst this is ongoing, figures extracted from DCS may be subject to revision as more information becomes available.

Animal Welfare

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms have been put in place on the resumption of the live animal export trade to ensure the protection of the animals from cruelty.

Elliot Morley: The Government will continue to operate a twin track policy to protect the welfare of animals exported from the UK. We ensure that the rules are met while animals are within our jurisdiction and encourage other EU member states to give enforcement the same high priority. We have raised this with the European Commission and hope to see the point reflected in proposals later this year, to update and improve the current EU rules on the welfare of animals during transport.
	All consignments of animals intended for export are subject to veterinary inspection in the 24 hours before loading. EU rules on health certification were amended in 2001 to include a mandatory assessment of the fitness of the animals for the journey. Consignors must complete a route plan showing how the intended journey will comply with statutory requirements for provision of feed, water and rest and maximum journey times. The pre-export check must be carried out at the farm of origin or at an approved assembly centre.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken to increase the amount spent on flood defences in 2003–04 to the levels necessary to meet her Department's standards of service.

Elliot Morley: Funding for the Department's programme for investing in flood warning arrangements and flood and coastal defences is increasing from £66 million in 2000–01 to £114 million in 2003–04. Funding for future years will be considered in the spending review process.
	I have encouraged operating authorities to identify priority sites where flood and coastal erosion risk can be reduced and to submit plans so that available funds will be fully utilised to reduce that risk.
	The Department's indicative standards of protection for flood and coastal defence schemes are provided as an aid to operating authorities to help in establishing the range of options to be considered. They do not represent any entitlement to protection or a minimum level to be achieved. The economic criteria for appraising schemes are that (a) the benefits outweigh the costs and (b) the most economically efficient option, commensurate with achieving an appropriate level of protection, is identified.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken to cap premiums imposed by insurance companies on homeowners in high-risk flood areas.

Elliot Morley: The Government do not intervene in price-setting by insurance companies. It is for the commercial judgment of individual insurance companies to set premiums according to their assessment of risk. We and the Environment Agency are working with the insurance industry so that companies have full information on the action taken to reduce flood risk so as to allow informed decisions. It remains the mutual aim of the Government and the insurance industry to ensure that affordable flood cover is available as widely as possible.

Agricultural Shows

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what agricultural shows licences farmers need to apply for; and what are the regulations governing animals at such shows.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Agricultural shows are very important to rural communities and we hope that they will be able to go ahead later this year subject to biosecurity conditions. On 5 February, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord Whitty of Camberwell announced details of the rules on animal movements that will operate on an interim basis during 2002. Further information on these new arrangements, including outline rules for movements to and from shows, have been made available in the Library of the House and posted on the DEFRA website at www.defraweb/footandmouth/movements/ mainindex.htm. We hope to publish further details specifically on the conditions that show organisers will need to meet by the end of the month.

Agricultural Shows

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural shows were cancelled as a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth; and how many received financial compensation.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The Department does not hold this information but according to the Association of Agricultural and Show Organisations, in excess of 309 shows are normally held each year and that last year, the vast majority of these were cancelled because of foot and mouth disease.
	There is no statutory compensation for the cancellation of a show due to foot and mouth restrictions.

Sugar Beet

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from sugar beet farmers about the price of the crop in 2001–02; and what action she has taken as a result.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	The basic price for sugar beet is determined by the relevant Common Agricultural Policy regime. This has kept EU white sugar prices at roughly double world levels for many years. Although the United Kingdom pressed for price reductions in last year's negotiations on renewal of the regime, the levels set by the Agriculture Council in Regulation 1260/01 for the period to 2006 remain broadly unchanged from the previous regime.
	Sugar beet farmers have made no specific representations about price for 2001–02, though they have expressed concern about the sterling/euro exchange rate and about certain difficulties in the harvesting and processing of this year's crop.

Animal Movements

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the 20-day standstill rule has been amended to apply to animals that have been moved onto the farm and are not already on the farm itself.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Veterinary advice is that for biosecurity reasons, the 20-day standstill rule should continue to apply to holdings rather than individual animals although this is kept under review.
	A number of exceptions to this rule are being permitted under the livestock movement regime being introduced on 11 February. Any future changes will need to ensure the continued segregation of incoming animals from the rest of the livestock in order to maintain biosecurity.

Rural Payments Agency

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information technology difficulties have been identified in the operations of the Rural Payments Agency.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 February 2002
	We have had no insurmountable problems with IT in the run up to and since the formal launch of the RPA in October, though it is true that we have had some of the difficulties that one must expect when bringing two organisations together. In very brief summary these were:
	the need to link two networks and e-mail systems in a way which would look seamless to the staff;
	the need to connect systems based on slightly differing technologies, inherited from MAFF and IB, and to connect each group of people to the other's systems and data;
	maintaining old technology in the fact of increasing demand at fewer sites;
	accommodating action to deal with foot and mouth at the same time as building the new agency.
	However, all of these have been dealt with by some upgrades, and by a good co-operative effort between RPA's staff and those of DEFRA.
	Also, action is in hand to provide a unified infrastructural service for the RPA which will supersede the tactical solutions we employed in the short term. Apart from the need to develop a new, more resilient platform for RPA's set of existing operational systems, a key objective is to support a major procurement for the strategic replacement of all the operational claims management systems by the end of 2004.

Rhizomania

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on farming of the removal of protected zone status for rhizomania.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 February 2002
	Removal of protected zone status for rhizomania should have little impact on the development of the disease for the next five to ten years. Most outbreaks that appear in that time will result from infection which is already present in the soil. The development of the disease thereafter will depend on the actions of growers, contractors and processors, in particular in limiting the movement of soil, the principal means by which the disease is spread. Growers with known outbreaks will benefit from the lifting of statutory restrictions on their farms.

Livestock Headage Payments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what headage payments are available to (a) beef, (b) dairy, (c) sheep and (d) other livestock farmers; what is the value of each payment (i) in aggregate and (ii) per head; and what are the conditions upon which payments depend.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The information requested is as follows. For all schemes the conditions upon which payments depend are detailed in the scheme literature which is sent to producers. Copies of this literature will be placed in the Library of the House.

Rat Infestations

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated annual cost was to (a) agriculture and (b) the food industry of damage and losses as the result of rat infestations in the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: The data required to estimate such damage and losses are not currently recorded.

Fishing Fleet

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 8 January, 2002 Official Report, column 769W, on the fishing fleet, if she will make a statement on (a) the total estimated discrepancy in kilowatt of power to be rectified on 1 July 2000 as a result of the declarations received from fishing vessels owners on 1 July 2000, (b) the total amount of kilowatt of power outstanding for which owners still have to acquire additional vessel capacity units and (c) the figures resulting from the above in relation to the totals for each of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea areas.

Elliot Morley: The total engine power discrepancy notified to Fisheries Departments by fishing vessel owners by 1 July 2000 was 50,400kW. As at 31 December 2001 vessel owners had acquired additional vessel capacity units (VCUs) equivalent to approximately 19,800kWs of this discrepancy. This leaves some 30,600kW to be corrected by the purchase of additional VCUs, the deration of engine power or a combination of the two. Vessel owners have until 31 December 2004 to do this. The figures cover the full spectrum of fishing activity. They cannot be broken down by ICES area as British domestic fishing licences authorise fishing in all relevant ICES areas.

Ear-tagging (Sheep)

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of unique ear-tagging of sheep in improving traceability; and what role the 20 day standstill order has in the overall application of the ear-tagging scheme.

Elliot Morley: Sheep born or moved from their holding of birth since 1 January 2000 have only been required to bear a flock mark on an eartag or tattoo giving details of that holding of birth. It has not been possible to test the effectiveness of individual or unique identification as this has not been required.
	The 20 day standstill required as part of the current FMD controls is monitored on the basis of batches of sheep moved and not on the identity of individual sheep.

Poland

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on whether Poland has accepted the terms and conditions of the acquis communautaire for fisheries within the negotiations on accession to the European Union.

Elliot Morley: EU accession negotiations for the Fisheries chapter have been provisionally completed with 10 of the 12 applicant countries. Poland and Malta have yet to conclude negotiations. Both have still to supply the EU with information regarding their preparations for meeting the acquis communautaire and discussion is still underway with the EU on derogations they have requested. It is now expected that the chapter will be concluded in the first half of 2002.

Fishing Gear

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on who is responsible for the initial authorisation of fishing gear to be used outside the Scottish 12 mile limit.

Elliot Morley: The Scottish Executive is responsible for fisheries management in the Scottish zone of British fisheries limits. This zone extends from the Scottish coast out to the 200 mile limit or to median lines with adjacent countries if that distance is shorter. Fisheries management includes regulation of fishing gear.

Livestock Movements

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the practical implications of the 20 day standstill order for stock breeding livestock farmers wishing to make applications for movement orders; and when she expects to lift the 20 day standstill order on the movement of livestock.

Elliot Morley: The Interim Regime for Livestock movements, which my noble Friend Lord Whitty announced on 5 February, will retain the 20 day standstill as the default position for movements not specified as exceptions. A significant number of exceptions are now permitted subject to conditions. These relate principally to breeding bulls and pigs, calves, sheep on tack and, as previously, all movements direct to slaughter. These provisions will be kept under review.

IT Contracts

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been (a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland, and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a).

Elliot Morley: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. Currently there are over 100 centrally managed IT contracts in place and it is expected that the core Department will spend around £61 million on IT systems and support this year, including an element for internal service provision. This sum excludes a contract relating to the Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network which I understand will be included in the response by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
	To identify the location of registered offices for all main contracting parties would incur disproportionate costs, but a survey of the top 16 contracts, in cost terms (see table), has revealed that the registered office is in England in every case.
	
		Contract details
		
			  Contractor Registered office  Description  Type of contract  Start date 
		
		
			 Lason Information Management Ltd. England Data capture management services Service provision agreement August 2000 
			 Global Crossing England Wide area data networking services Framework May 2000 
			 Compuware Ltd. England Uniface software licensing and support Support agreement April 2000 
			 International Computers Ltd. England IT supply, maintenance and support services Framework April 1999 
			 Sema Group UK Ltd. England Applications development services Framework April 1999 
			 Sherwood International Group Ltd. England Applications development services Framework April 1999 
			 SAS Software Ltd. England SAS software licences Support agreement January 1999 
			 Vodafone Corporate Limited England Mobile communication services Framework 1998 
			 Computer Associates England Network licences Support agreement March 1988 
			 Oracle Corporation UK Ltd. England Consultancy and education services Service provision agreement May 1997 
			 Oracle Corporation UK Ltd. England Gold software support service Support agreement May 1997 
			 Fujitsu Siemens Computers Ltd. England Unidata software licensing and support Support agreement February 1997 
			 PC World Business Direct England Computer supplies/products Framework 1996 
			 Orion Media Marketing Ltd. England Computer supplies/products Framework 1996 
			 Abacus Direct Marketing and Computer Services Ltd. England Processor controlled keying services Service provision agreement July 1996 
			 Siemens Communications Ltd. England Telephone systems and services Framework November 1993 
			 British Telecommunications Plc England Leased data circuits Framework May 1990

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Group Lotus (Redundancies)

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement concerning the proposed redundancies at Group Lotus in the South Norfolk constituency; and if she will take steps to safeguard the technical research capacity of Group Lotus.

Brian Wilson: I regret the announcement made by Group Lotus on 6 February of plans for up to 275 redundancies over the next few months, with the exact numbers to be decided after consultations with staff. However I note that these redundancies represent only 17 per cent. of the total Lotus work force. Recent improvements in manufacturing processes and productivity made by Group Lotus have led to an excess of staff employed in the manufacturing facility and this, together with a short term slowdown in the global market for sports cars, has led to the company's decision.
	I am pleased that the highly efficient Lotus car production at Norfolk of the Lotus Elise and Esprit and the GM/Opel roadster will continue at around 5,000 cars per annum. In the long term this continued commitment by Lotus to manufacture high quality niche sports cars will lead to increased sales and profitability. In addition Lotus Engineering, which is largely unaffected, will continue to provide high quality R&D and engineering consultancy services to an increasing number of automotive manufacturing clients. It is estimated that one in 10 of every cars sold in Europe have an engine developed by Lotus.
	The UK's automotive design engineering community, of which Lotus is a leading example, is respected internationally for its capability and excellence. Continued success critically depends on staying at the forefront of technological advance. My Department is already helping the sector maintain this world-class position through support for best practice channelled through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Moreover, direct funding for cutting edge R&D is available through the Foresight Vehicle LINK Programme. Here we are supporting three projects involving Lotus and a number of new Lotus proposals are being considered. The ongoing Foresight Vehicle road-mapping work allows companies such as Lotus to help set the priorities for the next phase of the programme to ensure its continuing relevance to strategic business needs. Furthermore, the Government's draft "Powering Future Vehicles" strategy provides an opportunity for Lotus to help shape thinking over the medium to long term in one of its areas of key competence.
	At European level, my Department has actively supported the inclusion of sustainable surface transport technologies in the EC sixth RTD&D Framework Programme, which is scheduled to be launched later this year. There is an indicative budget of about euro 600 million associated with this sub-theme. As with previous Framework Programmes, of which Lotus has been a beneficiary, the Government will establish a number of dedicated National Contact Points to provide information and guidance to prospective participants.

Utility Disconnections

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the Buckingham constituency have been disconnected by (i) water companies, (ii) electricity companies and (iii) telecommunications companies in each year since 1992.

Brian Wilson: The disconnection of domestic properties for non-payment of water bills was abolished by the Water Industry Act 1999 with effect from 1 July 1999. The number of disconnections for England and Wales since 1992 is set out in Table 1.
	
		Table 1: Number of domestic water disconnections for non-payment in England and Wales
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1992–93 18,636 
			 1993–94 12,452 
			 1994–95 10,047 
			 1995–96 5,826 
			 1996–97 3,148 
			 1997–98 1,907 
			 1998–99 1,129 
			 April-June 1999 127 
		
	
	Note:
	Information on water disconnections collected by company
	Source:
	Ofwat
	The number of households in Great Britain that have been disconnected for non-payment by electricity and gas companies in each year from 1992 is given in Table 2.
	
		Table 2: Number of domestic disconnections for non-payment for gas and electricity in Great Britain(34),(35)
		
			   Gas Electricity 
		
		
			 1992 15,707 18,018 
			 1993 16,068 3,700 
			 1994 16,308 1,200 
			 1995 14,511 838 
			 1996 8,826 477 
			 1997 29,771 460 
			 1998 29,500 400 
			 1999 22,177 373 
			 2000 16,500 300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data for 2001 are not yet available
	2. Data for England and Wales are not separately available
	Source:
	Ofgem
	The number of households in the United Kingdom that have been disconnected for non-payment by British Telecom in each year from 1998 is given in Table 3.
	
		Table 3: BT net disconnections for non-payment for the United Kingdom
		
			   Average number of residential lines during period(34) Number of net disconnections for non-payment per 100 residential lines (disconnections minus reconnections)(35) Number of net disconnections 
		
		
			  (a) (b) (a*b)/100  
			 January-June 1998 20,139,000 1.5 302,000 
			 July-December 1998 20,100,000 1.5 302,000 
			 January-June 1999 20,071,000 1.4 281,000 
			 July-December 1999 20,065,000 1.5 301,000 
			 January-June 1999 20,038,000 1.6 321,000 
			 July-December 1999 19,962,000 1.6 319,000 
			 January-June 1999 19,954,000 1.5 299,000 
			 
			 1998 — — 604,000 
			 1999 — — 582,000 
			 2000 — — 640,000 
		
	
	(34) Market Information, http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/marketinfo/ index.htm
	(35) Oftel, http://www.oftel.gov.uk/consumer/initiatives/disc0900.htm
	Note:
	No data are publicly available on a regional basis or for years prior to 1998. Data refer to BT only.
	Data are not available to produce numbers of disconnections for electricity, gas, water or telecommunications in the Buckingham constituency.

Company Statistics

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the work force is employed in companies that have grown 20 per cent. or more in the last four years in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North West RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions, (g) England and (h) the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the percentage of the workforce that is employed in companies that have grown 20% or more in the last four years in the following areas: a) St Helen's South b) the St Helen's MBC area c) Merseyside d) Manchester e) the north West RDA region f) the RDA regions g) England and h) the UK. (35418)
	The figures requested are shown in the table below:
	
		Percentage of the workforce employed in VAT based enterprises that have grown 20 per cent. or more between 1996 and May 2001
		
			 Area Percentage 
		
		
			 St. Helen's South Parliamentary Constituency 23 
			 St. Helen's District 30 
			   
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 37 
			 Manchester Unitary Authority 45 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 47 
			   
			 North West 42 
			 North East 46 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 41 
			 East Midlands 46 
			 West Midlands 39 
			 East 51 
			 London 53 
			 South East 49 
			 South West 41 
			   
			 England 47 
			 UK 47 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, Inter Departmental Business Register
	Criteria: Businesses live at May 2001, from the extract for the DTI Small Business Publication—"VAT registrations and De-registrations: Business Start-ups and Closures" (available free of charge on www.sbs.gov.uk), compared with their situation in 1996.

Company Statistics

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the work force was employed by (a) European and (b) other foreign companies in (i) St. Helens, South, (ii) the St. Helens MBC area, (iii) Merseyside, (iv) Manchester, (v) the North West RDA region, (vi) the other RDA regions and (vii) England in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the percentage of the workforce that is employed by (a) European and (b) other foreign companies in (i) St Helens South, (ii) the St Helens MBC area, (iii) Merseyside, (iv) Manchester, (v) the North West RDA region, (vi) the other RDA regions and (vii) England in each of the last five years. (35417)
	The information requested is not available for each of the last five years. It could only be given at disproportionate cost. However, information for 2001 can be given and is shown in the table below.
	
		Percentage employment in European (excl UK) and other -- foreign-owned VAT registered businesses 2001
		
			 Area European (excl UK) Other foreign 
		
		
			 St. Helen's South PC 2 3 
			 St. Helen's District 3 2 
			
			 Merseyside Metropolitan County 2 2 
			 Manchester 3 2 
			 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 9 3 
			
			 North West 6 3 
			 North East 3 4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3 8 
			 East Midlands 3 4 
			 West Midlands 6 6 
			 East 3 7 
			 London 4 8 
			 South East 5 11 
			 South West 1 4 
			
			 England 4 7 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics Inter Departmental Business Register
	Criteria: Based on the extract used to produce the National Statistics publication "PA1003—Size Analysis of United Kingdom Businesses 2001" (available free of charge on the NS website www. statistics.gov.uk). The figures are based on the location of the main address of the business.

Company Statistics

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of companies in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North West RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions, (g) England and (h) the UK (i) started up and (ii) failed, in the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 12 February 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the percentage of companies in (a) St Helen's South, (b) the St Helen's MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North West RDA region, (f) the other RDA regions (g) England and (h) the UK that were (i)start-ups and (ii) failed in the last five years.(35419).
	The figures for St Helen's South parliamentary constituency could only be given at disproportionate cost. However, the start-ups (VAT registrations), closures (VAT de-registrations) and stock (enterprises registered for VAT) for all counties, unitary authorities and districts in the UK requested, are available on the Small Business Service website. The web address is http://sbs.gov.uk/content/statistics/vat—2000.pdf. You will need to refer to tables 4, 5 and 6 Business Start ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-Registrations in 2000.

Glazing Businesses

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department plans to give to small glazing businesses in Bassetlaw who will not be able to afford the local authority building control fee when the legislation comes into effect on 1 April.

Alan Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
	Since the middle of last year, my Department has been in discussion with the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), regarding the setting up of a scheme for the self-certification of compliance with the Building Regulations for replacement glazing. The GGF set up a steering committee comprising key industry representative bodies, local authorities, my Department and others, to develop rules for such a scheme. These have recently been finalised, and the scheme is known as the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA). FENSA is open to any glazing installer who meets the relevant criteria, and has been developed to ensure that it is cost effective. Over 4,000 prospective members have completed pre-registration forms.
	I will shortly lay regulations before Parliament to authorise local authorities to accept certificates from FENSA registered installers, certifying that their work complies with the Building Regulations. The scheme currently deals only with dwellings, but will be extended to non-dwellings in due course. There will be no need for any competent glazing firm to have to pay local authority building control fees for replacement glazing in dwellings, and the costs of joining FENSA are comparatively small. I believe that the development of FENSA will not only significantly cut the costs of complying with the new regulations, but will be a major step forward in consumer protection.

PILOT Advisory Group

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) the present members of the PILOT advisory group and (b) former members who have subsequently left and been replaced, with the date on which this took place.

Brian Wilson: Current PILOT members are as follows:
	Brian Wilson, Minister for Energy and Industry
	Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
	George Foulkes, Minister of State, Scotland Office
	Tom Botts, Country Chairman and Director Planning HSE and External Affairs. UK Shell International Petroleum Company
	John McDonald, Managing Director, Texaco North Sea
	Scott Urban, Regional President, BP Amoco Exploration
	Tom Smith, Chairman and Managing Director, Nessco Ltd., Nessco House, Kirkhill Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB2 0EU
	Sir Ian Wood, Chairman and Managing Director, John Wood Group
	James McCallum
	Paul Blakeley, Director and General Manager, Talisman Energy UK Ltd.
	Michel Contie. TotalFinaElf Exploration UK plc
	Mike Mannering, Managing Director UK, Schlumberger
	Mike Straughen, Managing Director, AMEC Services Ltd.
	David Cassie, Managing Director, Coflexip Stena Offshore
	Danny Carrigan, Scottish Regional Secretary, Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
	Jon Cunliffe, Managing Director, Finance, Regulation and Industry, HM Treasury
	Stephen Hampson, Under Secretary, Economic and Industrial Affairs, Scottish Executive
	Dinah Nichols, DEFRA
	Joan MacNaughton, Director General, Energy
	Geoff Dart, Director, OG, DTI
	David Warren, Director, Business Group, Trade Partners UK
	Nick Starling, Director of Safety Policy, Safety Policy Directorate, Health and Safety Executive
	Iain Todd, Oil and Gas, DTI
	Angela Latta, Oil and Gas, DTI.
	Previous PILOT members with their date of leaving are as follows:
	Helen Liddell MP, February 2001
	Peter Hain MP, July 2001
	Wendy Alexander MSP, June 2001
	Alisdair Morrison MSP, December 2001
	Henry McLeish MSP, May 2000
	Malcolm Brinded, Shell UK, October 2001 Steve Marshall, BP Amoco, August 2001
	Anna Walker, DG Energy, DTI, October 2001
	Jim Campbell, DTI, June 2000
	Godfrey Robson, Scottish Executive, June 2000
	Dave Smith, Conoco, November 2000
	Iain Craig, Enterprise Oil, January 2001
	Sir Steve Robson, Permanent Secretary HM Treasury, December 2000
	Francis Gugen, Amerada Hess, May 2000
	John Rhodes, BTI, February 2000
	Alan Jones, BP Amoco, April 2000.

PILOT Advisory Group

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide details of when the PILOT advisory group is due to report; and if she will place copies of related documentation in the Library.

Brian Wilson: PILOT produced its 2000 End of Year Report in early 2001; the 2001 report is scheduled for publication in March 2002.
	Both of these reports are/will be available from the PILOT website www.pilottaskforce.co.uk.

Oil and Gas Task Force

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the members of the Oil and Gas Task Force (a) at the time it was established and (b) at the time it was replaced by PILOT.

Brian Wilson: The following list details all members of the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force throughout its duration.
	
		
			 Member  
		
		
			 Chairman:  
			 John Battle MP Minister for Energy and Industry, DTI (replaced by Helen Liddell MP) 
			 Vice Chairman:  
			 Lord McDonald Minister for Business and Industry Scottish Office (replaced by Brian Wilson MP) 
			 Members:  
			 Mike Bowyer Managing Director, PES International Ltd. 
			 Malcolm Brinded Managing Director, Shell UK Exploration and Production, Country Chairman Shell UK 
			 Tom Smith Chairman and Managing Director, Nessco Ltd. 
			 Sir Ian Wood Chairman and Managing Director, John Wood Group plc, Chairman Scottish Enterprise, Chairman IEP Oil and Gas Exports Advisory Board 
			 Bobby Buirds Regional Officer, Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU), Secretary IUOOC 
			 Syd Fudge Chief Executive, Kvaerner Oil and Gas Ltd., Chairman OCA, 
			 Francis Gugen Managing Director, Amerada Hess Ltd., Chairman CRINE 
			 Mark Hope Director, Enterprise Oil, Chairman Brindex, Vice President UKOOA 
			 Alan Jones Regional President, BP Amoco, Hon. Treasurer UKOOA 
			 James McCallum President, Global Marine Integrated Services Europe, Chairman SPN 
			 John McDonald Managing Director, Texaco (UK) North Sea Ltd. 
			 Anna Walker Director General, Energy, DTI 
			 Dinah Nichols Director General, DETR (Environmental Protection) 
			 Geoff Dart Director OG, DTI 
			 John Rhodes Director, IEP 
			 Godfrey Robson Under Secretary, Scottish Office 
			 Assessors:  
			 Jim Campbell Director IEP 
			 Julian Thomson Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Stolt Comex Seaway Ltd. 
			 Secretary:  
			 Keith Mayo Deputy Director IEP

Oil and Gas Task Force

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide details for (a) the Oil and Gas Task Force and (b) PILOT of (i) the terms of reference of these advisory groups, (ii) the occasions on which meetings have taken place and (iii) the outcomes and recommendations which have (A) resulted and (B) will result from these meetings and the work of the advisory group; and if she will place copies of related documentation in the Library.

Brian Wilson: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) (i) Oil and Gas Industry (OGITF) Task Force Terms of Reference.
	The task force will bring together Government Departments and the oil and gas industry to develop mutual understanding of the key issues both short term and over the next 10 years, including for example, technology development, environmental policies and knowledge management. Working within the parameters set by Government policy, the economic situation, and sustainable development the task force will:
	develop strategies for reducing the cost base of UK oil and gas operations against the background of low oil prices, the prospects for world demand, the mature nature of the North sea and conditions in other UKCS areas;
	examine and prioritise initiatives aimed at improving the competitiveness of the UK industry;
	make specific recommendations by summer 1999 for actions to be taken by the industry or Government.
	(ii) OGITF meetings
	27 January 1999
	23 February 1999
	31 March 1999
	28 April 1999
	11–12 May 1999
	26 May 1999
	29 June 1999
	5 October 1999
	1 December 1999. (b) (i) PILOT Terms of Reference
	To be an exemplar of the way that industry, Government, and the work force can work together to improve competitiveness arena.
	To monitor the progress of Oil and Gas Industry Task Force (OGITF) initiatives and provide strategic support, guidance and mentoring as and when required.
	To provide strategic leadership and a high level, pan-industry forum to address and resolve pan-industry issues.
	To provide a pan-industry forum to identify and develop new initiatives to improve UK oil and gas industry competitiveness as and when required.
	To be recognised as the most successful, productive and collaborative community of stakeholders improving the health of UK's oil and gas sector. (ii) PILOT Meetings
	1 February 2000
	15 May 2000
	26 July 2000
	4 October 2000
	17 January 2001
	19–20 March 2001
	25 June 2001
	17 October 2001
	16 January 2002.
	The OGITF made its recommendations to the Secretary of State in September 1999 in its final report 'A Template for Change'. PILOT produced an end of year report in early 2001 with the next scheduled for publication in March 2002. These and all papers and minutes for OGITF are/will be available on the PILOT website www.pilottaskforce.co.uk

Regulatory Reform

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will respond to the report of the Better Regulation Task Force on sector regulators; for what reason the response has been delayed beyond the target of 60 days; and what representations she has received from the task force in this respect.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government response is being published today and I have placed a copy in the Libraries of the House. This task force report was unusual in the way it covered a number of different sectors and it was necessary to discuss the response with the relevant economic regulators and co-ordinate it across several Government Departments.

Arms Exports

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the British companies which have received export licences to export arms and army-related equipment to (a) Qatar, (b) United Arab Emirates, (c) Bahrain and (d) Oman in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Information on export licences issued to particular British companies is commercially confidential, and is exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	Details of all export licences issued are published by destination in the Government's annual reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House. The 2001 annual report will be published as soon as possible.

Apprenticeships

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) boys and (b) girls are taking apprenticeships within the construction industry in England and Wales.

Brian Wilson: The spring 2001 Labour Forces Survey estimates that 47,000 people are currently doing recognised trade apprenticeships in construction. This is almost twice the number undertaking apprenticeships in 1996. It is not possible to split the figures down by gender because the sample size is too small. The survey also shows that of those currently working in construction, 800,000 people have completed or are still on apprenticeship schemes, of these 6,000 are female. The figures should be treated as indicative and are likely to be underestimates, as people taking apprenticeships tend to be young and mobile and do not always show up on surveys.

Nuclear Reactors

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  whether the recent discovery of radiolytic corrosion in the graphite moderators of UK Magnox reactors will result in premature closures;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the recent events leading to the closure of the nuclear reactors at (a) Chaplecross and (b) Calder Hall;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with his colleague the Secretary of State for Health regarding safety actions which the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will undertake in relation to graphite depletion in UK Magnox reactors.

Brian Wilson: BNFL has announced its strategy for the Magnox stations including maximum operating lifetime limits for each station. Details are set out in the company's annual report and accounts for 2001. Subject to annual reviews, and provided it remains safe and economic to do so, BNFL intends to operate each of the reactors up to a 50 year lifetime. This means the latest closure date for the four reactors at Calder Hall falls between 2006 and 2008 and for the four at Chapelcross the latest closure dates fall between 2008 and 2010. It is a matter of commercial judgment for BNFL as to whether or not any factors might arise which might make it uneconomical to continue operating any reactor up to its maximum lifetime limit.
	The phenomenon of graphite weight loss (referred to in my hon. Friend's questions as radiolytic corrosion and graphite depletion) in Magnox reactors, resulting from the irradiation and heating of the graphite during reactor operation, is well known to both BNFL and HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII). This affects most of the Magnox stations and is monitored closely to ensure that it does not lead to any problems of safety significance. Graphite weight loss is not a significant issue for the reactors at Chapelcross or Calder Hall as these reactors operate at a lower temperature.
	At the start of the routine annual outage of Reactor 1 at Chapelcross at the end of August 2001, BNFL discovered that a number of chargepans on top of the reactor had moved out of alignment. This occurrence is related to the well-understood phenomenon of radiation- induced graphite shrinkage which is a separate matter from graphite weight loss. As the four reactors at Calder Hall are of the same design as Reactor 1 at Chapelcross, BNFL decided, in consultation with HSE, to carry out inspections of these reactors too as these reached their next scheduled outrages. All four reactors at Calder Hall are now shut down. They will not be returned to operation until BNFL and the HSE are satisfied that it is safe to do so. This includes the requirement that the issue of misaligned chargepans needs to have been effectively addressed. This is also the case for Reactor 1 at Chapelcross.
	Reactors 2, 3 and 4 at Chapelcross have different design features which means that they are less susceptible to graphite shrinkage. They have not been affected by the misaligned chargepans problem. Reactor 3 at Chapelcross was shutdown in July due to the incident that took place during a fuelling outage when a failed grab in the defuelling machine led to a basket of spent fuel being dropped. Having received Consent from the HSE, BNFL has now restarted Reactor 3. Reactor 2 at Chapelcross is operating and Reactor 4 was shut down at the end of January for its planned annual maintenance outrage. Currently, BNFL is awaiting approval from the HSE to resume refuelling operations at Chapelcross.
	Matters relating to nuclear safety fall to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Neither the issue of graphite weight loss nor that of graphite shrinkage has been discussed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

Pallets

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the change in the size of the UK pallet market in the last four years.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 9 January 2002
	The Department has made no such assessment. However I would be happy to address any particular concern that the hon. Member may wish to raise.

Public Holidays

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what calculations she has made of the cost to public funds of an additional day's public holiday in (a) the UK, (b) Wales only, (c) Scotland only and (d) England only.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 11 February 2002
	There has been no cost assessment made of the financial implications to the public purse resulting from an additional day's public holiday throughout the United Kingdom nor individually for Wales, Scotland and England.

Public Holidays

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what figures she has collated on the number of paid bank holidays employees are entitled to in each European Union country; what plans the Government have to increase the number of paid bank holidays in the UK; and if employees will be eligible to a paid bank holiday for the forthcoming Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Alan Johnson: Employees have no statutory entitlement to payment for bank holidays in the UK. Therefore, whether they are eligible for payment in respect of the Queen's golden jubilee holiday will depend on their contract of employment.
	There are no plans to increase the number of bank holidays in the UK, and we do not collate figures on the number of paid bank holidays in each member state of the EU.

Eurozone

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the impact of Britain's employment laws on (a) the loss of jobs in manufacturing industry and (b) the transfer of UK jobs to countries in the Eurozone in the last five years.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department publishes Regulatory Impact assessments for all proposals for legislation before they are introduced. There is no evidence to suggest that employment legislation has affected the level of manufacturing employment.
	(b) It is not possible to estimate how many jobs have moved from the UK to other countries in the EU or from other EU countries into the UK. However the UK continues to remain an attractive location for inward investment. Almost a quarter (24 per cent.) of all FDI in Europe goes to the UK compared to 14 per cent. for Germany and 11 per cent. for France (1999).

End of Life Vehicles Directive

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her implementation of the end of Life Vehicles Directive; and whether she intends to make it apply retrospectively on vehicle manufacturers.

Brian Wilson: The responses to our consultation paper on options for implementing the Directive are now being assessed, along with the recommendations and conclusions of the Trade and Industry Committee. The Government are working to transpose and implement the Directive in accordance with the dates and options specified in the text, and without putting UK business at a disadvantage. In the Government's view, the Directive's provisions are not legally retrospective.

Electricity Imports

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much electricity was imported from France into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Brian Wilson: Imports of electricity from France to the United Kingdom, for the years 1997 to 2001 are as follows:
	
		
			   GWh 
		
		
			 1997 16,558 
			 1998 12,547 
			 1999 14,484 
			 2000 14,267 
			 2001 10,563 
		
	
	Note:
	The figure for 2001 is provisional.

Departmental Expenditure

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list her Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 1997–98.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 692W.

Enron Europe

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what submissions have been received by the Government from Enron Europe since May 1997 that have been made publicly available.

Brian Wilson: In common with other participants in the energy markets, Enron has made submissions to the Government on various issues, including public consultations. Details of all the submissions made could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, it is DTI practice to place a summary of responses to public consultations in the Libraries of the House and, except where companies made submissions in confidence, copies of submissions are available on request.

Energy Reserves

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long UK (a) coal, (b) oil and (c) gas reserves are expected to last.

Brian Wilson: In the Coal Authority's evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union on 12 November 2001, coal reserves at existing UK mines were assessed in 2001 at around 220 million tonnes, equivalent to about seven years of UK coal production at 2000 production rates. The evidence also said that there was a further known potential of 380 million tonnes and, in addition, currently unaccessed deep mine and opencast resources potentially provide many years of future production at present levels.
	Detailed estimates of oil and gas reserves on the UK continental shelf are given in the Brown Book (Development of UK Oil and Gas Resources 2001). The extent to which these reserves might be produced depends on a number of factors, including prices and costs relative to other oil producing areas. It is therefore difficult to make accurate predictions, but if all the discovered reserves given in the Brown Book were to be developed they represent some 11 years of oil production and 14 years of gas production at rates seen in 2000. If in addition, estimates of as yet undiscovered reserves are also considered, UK oil reserves represent between 13 and 29 years of production and UK gas reserves represent between 17 and 29 years of production, although the upper estimates are unlikely. In practice, production levels will fall and reserves will last longer. Indeed, a Pilot target is to produce 3 Mboed (million barrels of oil equivalent per day) in 2010 against about 4.5 Mboed in 2000.

Green Technologies

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to promote the take-up of green technologies.

Brian Wilson: The Government's aim is for the UK to become a leading player in the new markets for green energy and products, waste minimisation, recycling and re-use. Support for the take-up of green technologies is provided through a wide range of activities. The main ones to which DTI contributes directly are:
	The Sustainable Technologies Initiative offers grants for the development of new, more sustainable technologies. The total funding available from Government exceeds £18 million, of which £10 million is contributed by DTI, and £8 million is contributed through the science budget by research councils.
	The Envirowise programme is jointly funded by DTI and DEFRA and is helping UK companies increase their competitiveness through the introduction of resource efficiency techniques and cost-effective cleaner technology. Support for the current phase is some £31 million by the two Departments.
	DTI has committed £12.5 million over three years to the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
	Promoting more sustainable technologies and practices in construction is a key objective of my Department's £15 million construction research and innovation programme.
	The Government are providing substantial support to industry for the development of renewable forms of energy.
	Introducing the new Renewables Obligation, exempting renewables from the Climate Change Levy and protecting existing Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) contracts will together create a long-term market incentive for renewables worth over £1 billion per year by 2010.
	We are underpinning the obligation with direct Government funding for renewables worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004. We are setting up extensive capital grants programmes, in particular for offshore wind and energy crops projects, initiating a major photovoltaics demonstration programme, and boosting research and development.
	We recently introduced an order to allow locational flexibility for NFFO 3, 4 and 5 projects that have not yet been commissioned. This will allow more appropriate locations to be found in order to overcome problems in securing planning permission.
	We have initiated studies of each UK region's capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources. Once all these assessments are completed, it is expected that specific regional targets for renewable energy will be adopted across the UK.
	The Government are also exploring the scope for upgrading the electricity distribution system to enable the UK's huge renewable energy resources to be exploited to the full. For example, we have commissioned an initial study of the feasibility of an underwater cable to connect parts of the western seaboard of the UK directly to the National Grid.
	The Department is also working with other Government Departments on activities such as the Carbon Trust and the Green Technology Challenge.

Retention Systems

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the system of retention on smaller construction companies; and if she plans to change the system of retention;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the amount of retentions held back in the construction industry in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  which local authorities operate a retention system in their building programmes.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The Government do not collect data on the use of retentions by construction clients or suppliers. Retentions are a common contractual agreement between the parties resulting from decades of adversarial relationships between the players in the industry. We are taking a range of steps to address the root causes of the distrust. Through the Rethinking Construction initiative, run in partnership by Government and the construction industry, we have developed and disseminated policies that promote a culture change in the industry and across clients. These are based on partnering and long-term relationships between the parties where they co-operate to maximise efficiency and benefits, and to drive waste out of the project.

Combined Heat and Power

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department intends to take to ensure CHP is excluded from the obligation base for the Government's renewable energy obligation.

Brian Wilson: Responses to the Statutory Consultation on the Renewables Obligation included the suggestion that excluding electricity from good quality combined heat and power (CHP) installations from the total electricity sales figures on which the Renewables Obligation was based might be an effective means of supporting CHP.
	In the event, this suggestion was not pursued, on the basis of clear legal advice that it would be going beyond the powers conferred by Parliament (ultra vires) to use an Obligation intended to promote renewable energy to promote other forms of energy generation.
	DEFRA is developing, in close collaboration with other Departments, a draft CHP Strategy which will set out the measures needed to achieve the CHP target of at least 10,000 megawatts of good quality CHP by 2010. This will be issued for consultation shortly.

BNFL

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with British Nuclear Fuels in respect of improving the safety and security of buildings B302 and B302.1 at Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: None. I have received advice from officials on the safety and security of civil nuclear installations, including those at Sellafield. Officials have had discussions with BNFL. Safety and security precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review.

BNFL

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, of 1 February 2002, Official Report, column 618W, on BNFL, if she will list (a) those bodies which provided the independent advice on BNFL liabilities and (b) the contracts entered into with those advising the Department.

Brian Wilson: The Department received advice on BNFL's liabilities from Andersen, Arthur D Little, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deloitte and Touche, HSBC, Slaughter and May and Lane Clark and Peacock.
	With the exception of the contract entered into with Arthur D Little, which asked the firm specifically to review the methods used by BNFL when quantifying its liabilities, the contracts entered into with the remaining firms sought advice on a number of issues, including liabilities.
	These contracts were awarded following best departmental practice which involved obtaining competitive tenders and, where applicable, following EU procurement rules.

Energy White Paper

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date she will issue the Energy White Paper.

Brian Wilson: Energy policy issues will be further canvassed in the PIU report. No decision has yet been taken on the form of any responses to that review.

Staff Payments (Commercial Negotiations)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice Ministers in her Department have sought from the head of her Department regarding the propriety of members of their personal staff receiving payments from companies that are involved in commercial negotiations with her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: It is the responsibility of Ministers to ensure that no conflict of interest, or apparent conflict of interest arises between their personal affairs and their ministerial responsibilities, as set out in the Ministerial Code. Details of advice given by officials to Ministers are not disclosed.

Mineworkers' Compensation

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation was paid to former mineworkers in Nottinghamshire in respect of (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger in (i) December 2001 and (ii) January 2002.

Brian Wilson: The following table details compensation paid in Nottinghamshire:
	
		£ million 
		
			   (i) December 2001 (ii) January 2002 
		
		
			 (a) Respiratory disease compensation 1.8 0.9 
			 (b) Vibration White Finger compensation 2.4 4.8

Retail Fuels Market

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the size of the road transportation retail fuels market in each nation of the UK was in (a) ultra low sulphur diesel, (b) unleaded petrol, (c) four star petrol and (d) liquefied petroleum gas in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000.

Brian Wilson: Not all of the information requested is available. The available data are given in the table.
	
		Retail sales of road transportation fuels -- Thousand tonnes per annum
		
			 Fuels England and Wales(36) Scotland Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1998 
			 DERV fuel 5,916 564 122 6,602 
			 Of which: 
			 ultra low sulphur diesel(37) n/a n/a n/a 702 
			 Unleaded petrol 15,355 1,148 338 16,841 
			 4-star/lead replacement petrol(38) 4,301 225 69 4,595 
			 Liquid petroleum gas(39) n/a n/a n/a 4 
			  
			 1999 
			 DERV fuel 6,478 566 93 7,137 
			 Of which: 
			 ultra low sulphur diesel(37) n/a n/a n/a 6,066 
			 Unleaded petrol 17,253 1,247 281 18,781 
			 4-star/lead replacement petrol(38) 2,478 117 34 2,629 
			 Liquid petroleum gas(39) n/a n/a n/a 8 
			  
			 2000 
			 DERV fuel 6,925 462 76 7,463 
			 Of which: 
			 ultra low sulphur diesel(37) 6,925 462 76 7,463 
			 Unleaded petrol 18,048 1,094 269 19,411 
			 4-star/lead replacement petrol(38) 1,394 51 17 1,462 
			 Liquid petroleum gas(39) n/a n/a n/a 22 
		
	
	(36) Separate data on retail sales in Wales are not available.
	(37) Data are not available on retail sales of ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) in 1998 and 1999 broken down by nation. These years cover the period when it was replacing, and co-mingling with, ordinary diesel or DERV fuel at retail stations. By 2000 all supplies entering the retail market were of ULSD.
	(38) Four-star leaded petrol was phased out at the end of 1999. As such, the data provided include sales of lead replacement petrol as it was replacing, and co-mingling with, leaded petrol at retail stations.
	(39) Although increasing rapidly, the use of liquid petroleum gas as a road fuel is still relatively minor at the moment, and so a breakdown by nation is not available.
	Source:
	Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics: Energy Trends, September 2001 edition.

Oil Suppliers and Retailers

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the steps her Department takes to monitor the fairness of the contractual relationship between oil suppliers and retailers in non-competition issues.

Brian Wilson: My Department does not monitor contracts between oil suppliers and retailers.
	More generally, however, I am discussing with the oil industry whether and how relationships in the supply chain might be improved.

Road Transport Fuels

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 669W, on rural petrol stations, when she expects to announce the more effective mechanisms for the supply of road transport fuels.

Brian Wilson: As I said in my earlier answer of 10 December 2001 to my hon. Friend, I am considering whether there is a case for putting in place more effective mechanisms to support the objectives discussed by my hon. Friend. This is a complex matter, on which it is likely to take some time to reach a conclusion.

Fair Trade Goods

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 169W, on Fair Trade goods, 
	(1)  if she will review during Fair Trade Fortnight the amount of fairly traded goods used in her Department;
	(2)  pursuant to her answer of 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 682W, if she will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 969W.

Building Firms

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if there is a professional organisation that has a list of building firms that are reputable.

Brian Wilson: The DTI has developed the Quality Mark scheme to enable householders to quickly and easily identify reputable and competent construction firms. The scheme ensures that Quality Mark tradesmen are technically competent, possess relevant qualifications and display financial probity and registers them for the public to use.
	The Quality Mark scheme includes various customer care measures, such as a code of practice and an effective complaints system. There is also a scheme warranty that provides protection against defects in workmanship for six years after completion of works.
	Pilots are operating in Birmingham and Somerset and the scheme has been extended to contractors in Leicestershire and east Kent. So far 138 builders have been awarded the Quality Mark and over 200 are in the assessment pipeline. The scheme is currently undergoing evaluation, and a report will be made to Ministers shortly.
	DTI's national register, Constructionline, is operated under a public-private partnership by Capita Business Services Ltd. It was set up to reduce the cost to both firms and clients of repeated information handling at the initial stage of tendering for work. Public and commercial sector clients who use Constructionline gain access, free, to a single, nationwide list of approved construction firms. Constructionline assesses firms against commercially accepted standards to show that they have the capacity and capability to carry out the types and size of work for which they wish to tender. Firms pay a fee, close to cost, for registration and annual review on a sliding scale based on turnover. There are more than 10,000 firms registered with Constructionline and 13,330 licensed clients. Client access to the data, whether to individual firms' records or to source a project list of approved firms, rose by 73 per cent. in the year to January 2002.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Road Accidents

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries were caused by road crashes in the Metropolitan Police area in 2001; and at what estimated cost to public funds.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2000, the most recent calendar year for which figures are available, there were 292 deaths and 5,847 serious injuries on roads in the Metropolitan police area.
	An estimate of the full cost to public funds is not available. However, it is estimated that accidents involving death or serious injury in the Metropolitan police area in 2000 resulted in around £60 million of hospital, ambulance and police costs. This estimate includes any costs related to less seriously injured casualties in these accidents. Costs to public funds will also include social security payments and damage to public property which cannot be estimated.

Jury Trial

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on trial by jury; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: The Government are committed to jury trial for those cases that warrant it. Sir Robin Auld's review of the criminal courts, the report of which was published last October, made a number of recommendations with major implications for trial by jury. The Government are considering the report and will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

Drug Awareness Programmes

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution he plans that coroners' courts will make to drug awareness programmes.

Beverley Hughes: Data from inquest cases can assist in providing a firm baseline for measuring the effectiveness of drug prevention strategies. The Government action plan to prevent drug-related deaths, announced last November, undertook to increase information from coroners' reports and to provide best practice guidance and training to coroners by March 2003.
	Media reporting of inquests into drug-related deaths can bring home to the public the dangers involved in misusing drugs. At least one coroner has sought to encourage senior school children to attend such inquest hearings.

Extradition

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with United States officials about the potential extradition of terrorist suspects to the USA.

David Blunkett: holding answer 5 February 2002
	I discussed extradition in general terms at meetings with Mr. John Ashcroft, the United States Attorney-General, on 12 December 2001; and Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Chair of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives on 17 January 2002.
	The United States is an important extradition partner and officials routinely have to discuss individual cases with their authorities, as the need arises. We also keep our extradition relations with them under general review.

Youth Referrals

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged under 16 years have been referred to local authority social services departments by criminal courts over the last five years in (a) England and Wales and (b) Devon.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not contain the information requested.

Volunteering

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage people to take part in volunteering activity.

Angela Eagle: The Government have set themselves a target of making 1 million more people active in their communities by 2004. The active community unit has made significant investment in projects and initiatives aimed at encouraging people to take part in voluntary activity and making it easier for them to do so. Timebank, the Community Channel, Do-It and other initiatives have been established in partnership with media organisations. We are investing £19 million in the experience corps. Mentoring projects have been established with funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in January 2001.

English Language

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those known to have settled in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years is fluent in the English language.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 8 February 2002
	There are no recent, reliable figures about the number of people who have settled in the United Kingdom within the last 10 years who are fluent in English. We do not routinely ask people applying for settlement about their linguistic ability.
	In 2002, some 125,090 people were accepted for settlement. Some of them will have English as their first language and others will have developed a degree of fluency by virtue of the time they have spent here before becoming eligible for settlement.

Racial Attacks

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collates on the ethnic origin of the (a) perpetrators and (b) victims of racially motivated attacks; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The Home Office collects information on the ethnic origin of victims and perpetrators through the British Crime Survey. The most recent findings relating to racially motivated crimes were published in October 2001 in Home Office Research Study Number 223, 'Crime, Policing and Justice: the experience of ethnic minorities'.
	A new statistical return covering the offence group, age, gender and ethnic appearance of victims of racist crimes was introduced from 1 April 2001 in police forces. The first returns are expected at the end of this financial year and will be published by the Home Office in its annual publication, 'Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System'.

Sentencing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 666W, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Ms Munn) how many persons (a) under and (b) over 18 participated in the on-line consultation on the Fairer Sentencing website; how many were students; and what evidence he has of the representative nature of those participants.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 8 February 2002
	As indicated in the Introduction to the overview of the responses to consultation on the Halliday report that I announced on 4 February, over 1,200 attempts were made at the quiz on the Fairer Sentencing website, and about 100 messages posted on the debate forum. In addition, over 120 e-mails have been received, some of which have come through that website. Those who participated in this way were not asked to give any personal information though a very small number did so. Access to the on-line debating facility was available to all with access to the Internet through this website. Its availability was publicised widely and was designed to enable a wider section of the public to contribute to the debate. The consultation was not intended to be a scientifically based opinion survey but a means of extending the consultation more widely than the usual route of contact with criminal justice system professionals and known interest groups. The total number of written correspondence received in response to the public consultation exercise on the Halliday report was 185, which includes correspondence from those connected with the Criminal Justice System and members of the public.

Coroners Duties (Deaths Overseas)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of local coroners relating to UK nationals who die abroad.

Beverley Hughes: Coroners in England and Wales must hold an inquest into a death overseas if the body is brought into their jurisdiction, the death reported, and the circumstances are those in which an inquest would be required if the death had occurred here.

Police Retention

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers (a) retired from, (b) left for other reasons from and (c) was recruited to each police force in each year since 1997.

John Denham: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information provided relates to financial year data and is given in the table.
	Latest figures as at 30 September 2001, showed that 6,160 officers left the service in the previous 12 months. This represents 4.9 per cent. of the total police strength of the 43 forces in England and Wales. Within this total, 3,931 officers retired and the remainder left for other reasons including resignations, transfers to forces outside England and Wales, dismissals and deaths.
	During the 12 months to 30 September 2001, 9,020 officers were recruited, this is 3,694 or 69 per cent. more than the previous year and the most since 1979. This represents 7.2 per cent. of the total strength. Police officer retirements, other wastage and recruitment 1997 to 2001
	
		Police officer retirements(40): number and proportion of total strength
		
			  April 1997-March 1998 April 1998-March 1999 April 1999-March 2000 April 2000-March 2001 
			 Police force Number  Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 124 4.2 80 2.7 104 3.5 109 3.6 
			 Bedfordshire 46 4.3 49 4.7 39 3.8 31 3.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 2.6 46 3.6 37 3.0 28 2.2 
			 Cheshire 82 4.0 61 2.9 67 3.3 62 3.1 
			 City of London 38 4.6 27 3.5 29 4.0 26 3.7 
			 Cleveland 25 1.7 53 3.7 53 3.8 65 4.6 
			 Cumbria 45 3.9 36 3.2 50 4.6 41 3.9 
			 Derbyshire 77 4.3 50 2.8 36 2.0 37 2.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 111 3.7 96 3.3 112 3.9 108 3.7 
			 Dorset 88 6.7 45 3.5 49 3.8 54 4.0 
			 Durham 51 3.4 32 2.0 32 2.1 35 2.2 
			 Dyfed Powys 25 2.5 20 1.9 31 3.0 30 2.8 
			 Essex 100 3.4 96 3.3 99 3.5 75 2.6 
			 Gloucestershire 56 5.1 51 4.6 36 3.2 35 3.0 
			 Greater Manchester 329 4.7 282 4.1 235 3.5 239 3.5 
			 Gwent 32 2.6 28 2.2 49 3.9 43 3.4 
			 Hampshire 70 2.0 67 1.9 129 3.8 107 3.1 
			 Hertfordshire 51 2.9 45 2.6 67 3.8 48 2.5 
			 Humberside 83 4.1 64 3.2 76 3.9 74 3.9 
			 Kent 89 2.7 79 2.5 102 3.2 103 3.1 
			 Lancashire 111 3.4 75 2.3 78 2.5 105 3.2 
			 Leicestershire 59 3.0 47 2.4 46 2.3 56 2.8 
			 Lincolnshire 33 2.8 49 4.3 58 5.2 45 3.7 
			 Merseyide 151 3.6 112 2.7 116 2.8 124 3.0 
			 Metropolitan police 983 3.8 1,065 4.1 815 3.2 686 2.8 
			 Norfolk 66 4.6 47 3.4 45 3.3 49 3.5 
			 North Wales 46 3.3 62 4.5 49 3.5 60 4.2 
			 North Yorkshire 38 2.8 29 2.2 51 4.0 55 4.2 
			 Northamptonshire 44 3.8 16 1.4 25 2.2 26 2.2 
			 Northumbria 151 4.0 115 3.0 103 2.7 91 2.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 92 4.0 82 3.7 67 3.0 75 3.3 
			 South Wales 136 4.6 139 4.7 105 3.6 131 4.2 
			 South Yorkshire 92 2.9 100 3.2 100 3.2 104 3.3 
			 Staffordshire 126 5.5 69 3.1 51 24 50 2.3 
			 Suffolk 51 4.3 26 2.2 37 3.2 52 4.6 
			 Surrey 73 4.5 50 3.0 54 3.0 52 3.7 
			 Sussex 128 4.3 127 4.5 107 3.8 106 3.7 
			 Thames Valley 123 3.3 92 2.5 109 2.9 91 2.5 
			 Warwickshire 45 4.9 42 4.6 25 2.8 33 3.6 
			 West Mercia 69 3.4 71 3.5 79 4.2 114 5.8 
			 West Midlands 294 4.1 203 2.8 184 2.6 158 2.1 
			 West Yorkshire 163 3.2 142 2.9 153 3.2 158 3.3 
			 Wiltshire 48 4.2 45 3.9 40 3.6 33 2.9 
			 Total for all 43 forces 4,678 3.7 4,112 3.3 3,929 3.2 3,804 3.1 
			 Total including secondments 4,678 3.7 4,112 3.3 3,929 3.2 3,804 3.0 
		
	
	(40) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements
	
		Other police officer wastage: number and proportion of total strength
		
			  April 1997-March 1998 April 1998-March 1999 April 1999-March 2000 April 2000-March 2001 
			 Police force Number  Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 24 0.8 24 0.8 42 1.4 51 1.7 
			 Bedfordshire 21 1.9 14 1.3 19 1.8 51 4.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 2.6 20 1.6 17 1.4 42 3.2 
			 Cheshire 20 1.0 11 0.5 23 1.1 23 1.1 
			 City of London 35 4.2 31 4.0 21 2.9 29 4.1 
			 Cleveland 16 1.1 25 1.8 6 0.4 16 1.1 
			 Cumbria 11 0.9 24 2.1 16 1.5 28 2.7 
			 Derbyshire 16 0.9 9 0.5 11 0.6 11 0.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 18 0.6 15 0.5 22 0.8 22 0.7 
			 Dorset 20 1.5 19 1.5 26 2.0 15 1.1 
			 Durham 28 1.8 10 0.6 26 1.7 18 1.1 
			 Dyfed Powys 7 0.7 5 0.5 8 0.8 19 1.8 
			 Essex 57 1.9 26 0.9 70 2.5 66 2.3 
			 Gloucestershire 9 0.8 9 0.8 17 1.5 12 1.0 
			 Greater Manchester 51 0.7 64 0.9 61 0.9 65 0.9 
			 Gwent 18 1.5 22 1.8 19 1.5 15 1.2 
			 Hampshire 87 2.5 70 2.0 61 1.8 80 2.3 
			 Hertfordshire 44 2.5 46 2.7 48 2.7 69 3.6 
			 Humberside 29 1.4 30 1.5 19 1.0 61 3.2 
			 Kent 50 1.5 70 2.2 54 1.7 53 1.6 
			 Lancashire 24 0.7 24 0.7 33 1.0 34 1.0 
			 Leicestershire 34 1.7 47 2.4 23 1.2 16 0.8 
			 Lincolnshire 41 3.4 12 1.1 9 0.8 15 1.2 
			 Merseyide 27 0.6 24 0.6 29 0.7 33 0.8 
			 Metropolitan police 578 2.2 660 2.5 662 2.6 412 1.7 
			 Norfolk 22 1.5 17 1.2 12 0.9 13 0.9 
			 North Wales 9 0.6 10 0.7 7 0.5 15 1.0 
			 North Yorkshire 14 1.0 15 1.1 15 1.2 7 0.5 
			 Northamptonshire 13 1.1 44 3.9 13 1.2 28 2.4 
			 Northumbria 53 1.4 45 1.2 48 1.3 45 1.2 
			 Nottinghamshire 21 0.9 28 1.3 25 1.1 21 0.9 
			 South Wales 17 0.6 27 0.9 26 0.9 30 1.0 
			 South Yorkshire 32 1.0 44 1.4 37 1.2 34 1.1 
			 Staffordshire 35 1.5 27 1.2 30 1.4 25 1.2 
			 Suffolk 13 1.1 28 2.4 19 1.7 24 2.1 
			 Surrey 46 2.9 32 1.9 26 1.5 40 1.9 
			 Sussex 53 1.8 74 2.6 78 2.8 80 2.8 
			 Thames Valley 65 1.7 44 1.2 80 2.1 81 2.2 
			 Warwickshire 21 2.3 13 1.4 13 1.4 21 2.3 
			 West Mercia 30 1.5 29 1.4 23 1.2 42 2.2 
			 West Midlands 152 2.1 138 1.9 143 2.0 161 2.2 
			 West Yorkshire 69 1.3 56 1.1 56 1.2 65 1.3 
			 Wiltshire 15 1.3 10 0.9 26 2.3 32 2.9 
			 Total for all 43 forces 1,979 1.6 1,992 1.6 2,019 1.7 2,010 1.6 
			 Total including secondments 1,979 1.6 1,992 1.6 2,019 1.6 2,010 1.6 
		
	
	(41) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements
	
		Total police officer wastage: number and proportion of total strength
		
			  April 1997-March 1998 April 1998-March 1999 April 1999-March 2000 April 2000-March 2001 
			 Police force Number  Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 148 5.0 104 3.5 146 5.0 160 5.3 
			 Bedfordshire 67 6.2 63 6.1 58 5.6 72 7.0 
			 Cambridgeshire 68 5.3 66 5.2 54 4.4 70 5.4 
			 Cheshire 102 5.0 72 3.5 90 4.5 85 4.2 
			 City of London 73 8.8 58 7.5 50 6.8 55 7.8 
			 Cleveland 41 2.8 78 5.5 59 4.2 81 5.8 
			 Cumbria 56 4.8 60 5.3 66 6.1 69 6.6 
			 Derbyshire 93 5.2 59 3.4 47 2.6 48 2.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 129 4.4 111 3.8 134 4.7 130 4.4 
			 Dorset 108 8.2 64 5.0 75 5.7 69 5.1 
			 Durham 79 5.2 42 2.7 58 3.7 53 3.3 
			 Dyfed Powys 32 3.2 25 2.4 39 3.8 49 4.6 
			 Essex 157 5.4 122 4.2 169 6.0 141 4.9 
			 Gloucestershire 65 5.9 60 5.4 53 4.8 47 4.0 
			 Greater Manchester 380 5.5 346 5.1 296 4.4 304 4.4 
			 Gwent 50 4.1 50 4.0 68 5.4 58 4.6 
			 Hampshire 157 4.5 137 3.9 190 5.6 187 5.4 
			 Hertfordshire 95 5.5 91 5.3 115 6.5 117 6.1 
			 Humberside 112 5.5 94 4.8 95 4.9 135 7.0 
			 Kent 139 4.3 149 4.7 156 4.9 156 4.7 
			 Lancashire 135 4.1 99 3.1 111 3.5 139 4.3 
			 Leicestershire 93 4.7 94 4.7 69 3.5 72 3.5 
			 Lincolnshire 74 6.2 61 5.4 67 6.0 60 5.0 
			 Merseyide 178 4.2 3.6 3.2 145 3.5 157 3.8 
			 Metropolitan police 1,561 6.0 1,725 6.6 1,477 5.8 1,098 4.4 
			 Norfolk 88 6.2 64 4.6 57 4.1 62 4.4 
			 North Wales 55 3.9 72 5.2 56 4.0 75 5.2 
			 North Yorkshire 52 3.8 44 3.3 66 5.1 62 4.7 
			 Northamptonshire 57 4.9 60 5.3 38 3.4 54 4.7 
			 Northumbria 204 5.4 160 4.2 151 4.0 136 3.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 113 4.9 110 4.9 92 4.2 96 4.2 
			 South Wales 153 5.1 166 5.6 131 4.5 161 5.1 
			 South Yorkshire 124 3.9 144 4.5 137 4.3 138 4.3 
			 Staffordshire 161 7.0 96 4.3 81 3.7 75 3.5 
			 Suffolk 64 5.4 54 4.5 56 4.9 76 6.7 
			 Surrey 119 7.4 82 4.9 80 4.5 92 4.5 
			 Sussex 181 6.0 201 7.1 185 6.6 186 6.5 
			 Thames Valley 188 5.0 136 3.6 189 5.1 172 4.6 
			 Warwickshire 66 7.1 55 6.1 38 4.2 54 5.8 
			 West Mercia 99 4.9 100 4.9 102 5.4 156 8.0 
			 West Midlands 446 6.2 341 4.7 327 4.5 319 4.3 
			 West Yorkshire 232 4.5 198 4.0 209 4.3 223 4.6 
			 Wiltshire 63 5.4 55 4.8 66 5.9 65 5.8 
			 Total for all 43 forces 6,657 5.3 6,104 4.9 5,948 4.9 5,814 4.7 
			 Total including secondments 6,657 5.2 6,104 4.8 5,948 4.8 5,814 4.6 
		
	
	(42) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements
	
		Police officer recruitment: number and proportion of total strength
		
			  April 1997-March 1998 April 1998-March 1999 April 1999-March 2000 April 2000-March 2001 
			 Police force Number  Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 138 4.6 142 4.7 104 3.5 184 6.1 
			 Bedfordshire 49 4.5 36 3.5 37 3.6 82 7.9 
			 Cambridgeshire 65 5.0 46 3.6 23 1.9 134 10.3 
			 Cheshire 94 4.6 112 5.4 36 1.8 108 5.4 
			 City of London 34 4.1 18 2.3 0 0.0 29 4.1 
			 Cleveland 71 4.8 0 0.0 68 4.8 71 5.0 
			 Cumbria 79 6.8 34 3.0 23 2.1 31 3.0 
			 Derbyshire 66 3.7 52 3.0 79 4.4 103 5.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 179 6.0 57 2.0 74 2.6 172 5.9 
			 Dorset 129 9.8 44 3.4 87 6.7 100 7.4 
			 Durham 123 8.1 106 6.8 51 3.3 83 5.2 
			 Dyfed Powys 42 4.2 50 4.9 54 5.2 58 5.5 
			 Essex 124 4.2 96 3.3 93 3.3 181 6.2 
			 Gloucestershire 34 3.1 64 5.8 59 5.3 89 7.6 
			 Greater Manchester 437 6.3 217 3.2 286 4.2 389 5.6 
			 Gwent 39 3.2 61 4.9 82 6.5 63 4.9 
			 Hampshire 201 5.8 117 3.4 152 444 191 5.6 
			 Hertfordshire 78 4.5 79 4.6 167 9.5 110 5.7 
			 Humberside 88 4.4 48 2.4 91 4.7 98 5.1 
			 Kent 119 3.7 120 3.7 174 5.4 269 8.1 
			 Lancashire 135 4.1 55 1.7 99 3.1 164 5.0 
			 Leicestershire 118 6.0 88 4.4 67 3.4 108 5.3 
			 Lincolnshire 61 5.1 6 0.5 34 3.0 119 9.9 
			 Merseyide 181 4.3 234 5.6 41 1.9 178 4.4 
			 Metropolitan police 1,200 4.6 1,629 6.2 994 3.9 1,276 5.1 
			 Norfolk 84 5.9 28 2.9 43 3.1 90 6.3 
			 North Wales 48 3.4 59 4.2 79 5.6 119 8.2 
			 North Yorkshire 65 4.8 17 1.3 10 0.8 66 5.1 
			 Northamptonshire 57 4.9 29 2.5 19 1.7 93 8.0 
			 Northumbria 275 7.3 233 6.1 121 3.2 226 5.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 111 4.8 22 1.9 104 4.7 134 5.9 
			 South Wales 168 5.6 183 6.1 124 4.2 286 9.1 
			 South Yorkshire 145 4.6 130 4.1 128 4.0 183 5.7 
			 Staffordshire 239 10.4 31 1.4 22 1.0 62 2.9 
			 Suffolk 76 6.4 57 4.8 17 1.5 65 5.7 
			 Surrey 116 7.2 138 8.3 183 10.3 240 11.6 
			 Sussex 135 4.5 109 3.8 101 3.6 206 7.2 
			 Thames Valley 276 7.3 153 4.1 190 5.1 237 6.4 
			 Warwickshire 67 7.3 50 5.5 59 6.6 85 9.2 
			 West Mercia 79 3.9 109 5.4 15 0.8 92 4.7 
			 West Midlands 444 6.2 466 6.4 255 3.5 553 7.4 
			 West Yorkshire 203 3.9 17 0.3 61 1.3 212 4.4 
			 Wiltshire 71 6.1 49 4.3 29 2.6 75 6.7 
			 Total for all 43 forces 6,543 5.2 5,391 4.4 4,535 3.7 7,414 6.0 
			 Total including secondments 6,543 5.2 5,391 4.3 4,535 3.7 7,414 5.9 
		
	
	(43) Retirements include ordinary and medical retirements

Travellers

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has collated on the number of court orders obtained by local authorities to evict travellers from public parks and open spaces in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Figures for the number of court orders obtained by local authorities to evict travellers from public parks and open spaces are not collated centrally.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of applicants to the Criminal Cases Review Commission have the assistance of a solicitor.

Keith Bradley: The results of the Commission's latest six-monthly survey to 30 September 2001, showed that 51 per cent. of applicants, whose cases were under review, had some form of legal representation.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the Criminal Cases Review Commission to give priority to cases of women crown court conviction applicants who are in custody and have young children.

Beverley Hughes: The Commission's priority-ranking group already receives and considers requests from such applicants.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women convicted of murder are the subject of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data is available. During 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001, the Criminal Cases Review Commission received five applications concerned with women convicted of murder.

Domestic Violence

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions of (a) men and (b) women there have been for offences involving domestic violence in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Offences involving domestic violence are not identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings database as no specific statute covers such offences.
	Prosecutions brought might range from common assault to homicide depending on the level of violence, and as the circumstances of the offences for which prosecutions are brought are not collected centrally, offences involving domestic violence cannot be distinguished from other offences within these categories.
	Despite the lack of centrally collated statistics, there are justified concerns that incidents of domestic violence too often fail to result in prosecutions. We have introduced a number of measures to reduce the attrition rate for domestic violence offences and to bring more offenders to justice.
	These include: Guidance for prosecutors issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in November and to police in 2000 encouraging them to work closely together to enhance evidence gathering, reducing the reliance on the victim's evidence. A number of the Crime Reduction Programme Violence Against Women projects are supporting women through the Criminal Justice System and aiming to empower women to use both civil and criminal remedies. The Metropolitan police service and Crown Prosecution Service are examining a number of domestic violence homicides that have taken place, in an attempt to establish where agency responses might be improved to prevent similar tragedies, and any lessons to be learned by the Criminal Justice System. Our attrition target is to bring 100,000 more offenders to justice. Given that domestic violence accounts for almost a quarter of all violent crime, a significant number of those offenders will be domestic violence perpetrators.

Sex Offenders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to force sex offenders to notify the authorities if they are travelling abroad for eight days or less; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Sex Offenders (Notice Requirement) (Foreign Travel) Regulations 2001 made under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, require sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (the register) to notify the police if they intend to travel abroad for a period of eight days or longer. These came into force on 1 June 2001.
	The qualifying period for notification of travel abroad was the subject of discussion during the review of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. The review included representatives of the police, probation and social services, and children's charities. The conclusion reached was that a qualifying period shorter than eight days would result in an unwieldy, unresponsive and consequently less effective, system for the police to administer.
	We will be keeping the effectiveness of the Sex Offenders Act under review over the years to come but we have no plans to change this aspect of the system at this stage.
	The United Kingdom remains one of only four countries which has a register of sex offenders and one of only two which requires registered sex offenders to notify travel abroad.

Child Pornography

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions by courts in the United Kingdom there have been for the (a) production and (b) distribution of child pornography material in the last 12 months.

Keith Bradley: Offences of producing or distributing pornography are not directly identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings database. The available information, relating to possessing, taking or making indecent photographs, or pseudo-photographs, of children under the Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 or for possessing obscene material for gain under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, is shown in the table. These statistics relate to England and Wales in 2000. Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	
		The number of defendants convicted at all courts for offences relating to child pornography England and Wales 2000(44)
		
			  Offence  Statute Total convicted 
		
		
			 Possessing obscene material for gain Obscene Publications Act 1959 s.2 as amended by the Obscene Publications Act, 1964 sec.1 81 
			 Take or to make indecent photographs, or pseudo-photographs, of children Protection of Children Act 1978 sections 1, 6 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 sec. 84 218 
			 Possession of an indecent photograph, or pseudo-photograph, of a child Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1988 sec. 160 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 secs. 84(4) and 86(1) 77 
		
	
	(44) Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and so are excluded from this table.

Policies and Actions

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Cynon Valley constituency, the effects on the Cynon Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

John Denham: The Home Office is working with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society enhancing opportunities for all and in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office annual reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office annual report 2000–2001, is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime is contained in the publication: "Recorded Crime, England and Wales, 12 months to 31 March 2001", can also be found in the Library.
	These statistics provide information for six common offences down to CDRP (Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships) and BCU (Basic Command Units) level. The figure for total recorded crime is only provided at police force level and so covers South Wales police as a whole. Figures for March 1997 compared to March 2001 show that South Wales police had seen the two biggest falls in overall recorded crime, of 26 per cent., of any police force in England and Wales.
	A number of Home Office initiatives funded under the Crime Reduction Programme will have a specific impact on crime levels in the Cynon Valley. Many of the Crime Reduction Programme projects and other funding streams listed benefit the Rhondda Cynon Taff unitary authority and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership that cover Cynon Valley and the other two valleys that make up the Rhondda Cynon Taff area:
	Crime Reduction Programme
	Targeted Policing Initiative: A multi-agency project, liaising with five children's homes in the Rhondda Cynon Taff area, to tackle absenteeism, the development of criminal behaviour and vulnerability of youngsters—£500,000.
	Violence Against Women: a £11,706 domestic violence project in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
	Closed Circuit Television (CCTV): A total of £725,405 has been awarded to six CCTV projects in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Three of these are specific to the Cynon Valley area; Aberdare Town Centre project—£175,000; a Hirwaun project covering a residential area, car parks and community facilities—£79,105 and £31,500 for a residential area and shops project in Penywaun.
	Other Funding Streams
	Under the "Small Retailers in Deprived Areas" initiative, £30,000 has been awarded to a Rhondda Cynon Taff scheme of which seven shops in the Cynon Valley area will receive a share. In addition, the Rhondda Cynon Taff Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership have had £201,200 made available to them under the Communities Against Drugs Initiative, and £30,036 under the Partnership Development Fund.
	Police Numbers in South Wales
	Police numbers in the South Wales police are have also increased since 1997. On 30 September 2001 the force had 3,241 police officers. This is a record number of officers and 265 more than the force had in March 1997. The deployment of resources to Cynon Valley and other parts of the South Wales police area is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. Civilian support staff in South Wales on 30 September was 1,268–63 more than in March 1997.
	Further information on the Home Office and its policies is published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

Hacking

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 4 February 2002
	No cases of computer hacking were detected in 2001.

Police

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have finished their basic training course and are waiting a start date; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I understand that no police officers who have completed their basic training course are kept waiting for a date to return to their force.

Lost/stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Angela Eagle: The following items valued at less than £50 each have been reported as lost or stolen from the Home Department in the last four years.
	
		Home Office—items valued at less than £50 each which have been reported stolen or lost
		
			 Description Amount 
		
		
			 2000–01  
			 HMPS—Fraudulent obtaining of medication £33.12 
			 HMPS—Theft of prisoners music cassettes £9.00 
			 HMPS—Dressing gown missing £25.00 
			 HMPS—Watch missing from property £15.00 
			 HMPS—Theft of prisoners property from cell £12.32 
			 Stolen magazine £3.30 
			 HMPS—Stolen phonecard £5.00 
			 HMPS—Canteen bag went missing, later found empty with phone cards missing £16.00 
			 HMPS—Inmate's canteen stolen £14.80 
			   
			 1999–2000  
			 HMPS—Theft of cash £40.00 
			 Use of Agency Fuel card to obtain petrol £40.00 
			   
			 1998–99  
			 HMPS—Missing telephone/answer machine Cleland House £25.00 
			 1997–98  
			 Computer memory stolen £30.00 
			 Computer mouse missing £22.00 
			 Keyboard and mouse missing £40.00

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to process permanent residence applications for spouses of UK residents is; and what the average time is in each quarter since January 1997.

Angela Eagle: I regret that there are no published data on decision times for individual types of settlement applications. Our aim is to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks. Due to the exceptionally high number of applications received in 2001, especially in recent months, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance, it is at present taking up to seven weeks to decide an application. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible.

Policy Checklist

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of his Department's policy checklist in the Library; and what status this checklist has in the decision making process of the Department.

Angela Eagle: I am placing a copy of the policy development checklist in the Library. The checklist is available to Home Office staff on the Department's intranet site and aims to promote good practice and offer practical advice on how best to develop and deliver policy successfully.

Fundamentalist Audio Tapes

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will take steps to prevent the further sale, distribution and copying of the audio tapes, 'No peace with the Jews', 'History repeats itself' and 'Jihad'; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement about what action he proposes to take concerning the audio tape, No peace with the Jews, and its producer, details of whom have been supplied to him.

Angela Eagle: It is an offence under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986 to incite racial hatred, including through the distribution, showing or playing of recorded material which is threatening, abusive or insulting and intended or likely to stir up racial hatred. Part III also includes a power of forfeiture of written or recorded material where a person has been convicted of an offence of inciting racial hatred.
	In the first instance it is the responsibility of the police to decide whether there are sufficient grounds to launch a criminal investigation and that of the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a prosecution. The Metropolitan police are investigating the allegations regarding these audiotapes.

Victim Support

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on the victim support network; and if he will encourage local authorities to assist the scheme financially and provide further financial assistance to the service.

Keith Bradley: Since 1997 we have more than doubled the Home Office grant to Victim Support, to £25 million per annum. This has enabled them to develop and extend the work done by their existing community based schemes and to replicate in magistrates courts the excellent witness support service already provided at all Crown court centres.
	It is for local authorities to decide what their spending priorities are and whether and to what extent they feel able to fund the Victim Support schemes in their area.

Asylum Seekers (Kosovo)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of people from Kosovo who are claiming political asylum in the United Kingdom.

Angela Eagle: I regret that it is not possible to identify separately Kosovars within the available statistics for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). FRY is comprised of Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro but the majority of FRY applications are thought to be from Kosovars.
	Information on the number of applications for asylum lodged by nationals of FRY between January 1996 and September 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		Applications(45),(46) received for asylum in the United Kingdom (UK) from nationals of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), excluding dependants, January 1996 to September 2001
		
			 Period Applications 
		
		
			 1996 400 
			 1997 1,865 
			 1998 7,395 
			 1999 11,465 
			 2000(47) 6,070 
			 January—September 2001(47) 2,330 
		
	
	(45) Figures rounded to the nearest five.
	(46) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000.
	(47) Provisional figures.
	The number of asylum applications from nationals of FRY which are currently awaiting initial decision on their asylum applications, and the number awaiting the outcome of appeal determinations, is not available, and would be available only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files. Information on asylum applications and initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will present data for the final quarter of 2001, and will be available from 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html

Voluntary Sports Clubs

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many voluntary sports clubs are registered with the Charity Commission, broken down by nation and region of the United Kingdom.

Angela Eagle: This is a matter for the Charity Commission, as the Government Department that registers charities in England and Wales. The chief Charity Commissioner will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Unlicensed Vehicles

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to police forces on the prosecution of individuals who fail to pay road fund licence.

John Denham: Responsibility for taking action in possible cases of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion lies with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The role of the police is mainly limited to notifying the DVLA of suspected untaxed vehicles which have been seen either parked or driven on public roads. Police and traffic wardens undertake such detection and reporting as part of their day to day duties. During 2000–01 the police and traffic wardens sent over 1.5 million VED offence reports to the DVLA. DVLA in turn took successful action against 727,000 evaders, resulting in the recovery of £85 million.

Property Offences

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population is made up of those convicted of property offences.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The proportion of the prison population made up of those convicted of property offences, that is burglary, robbery, arson, taking and driving away, handling stolen goods, criminal damage and other thefts is 39 per cent.

Young Offenders

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the five most common offences were for which young offenders were brought to trial in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The available information relates to persons aged 10 and under 18 proceeded against at magistrates courts in England and Wales and is for 2000. Data for 2001 will be published in the autumn.
	The five most numerous offence categories are:
	
		
			 Offence proceeded against Number 
		
		
			 Theft from shops 11,907 
			 Using vehicle uninsured against third party risks 10,664 
			 Summary criminal or malicious damage 10,437 
			 Common assault and battery 7,307 
			 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 6,043

Criminal Defence Service

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the Government's plans for pilots for a criminal defence service; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	I believe that this question refers to the pilots of the Public Defender Service (PDS). The Criminal Defence Service is the name of the overall scheme through which criminal defence services are provided. It covers a variety of flexible ways of providing services, of which the PDS is one, in order to achieve quality and value for money.
	PDS offices opened in Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Swansea and Birmingham on 14, 17 and 21 May and 11 July 2001 respectively. As part of the first phase of the PDS pilot, the Legal Services Commission plans to open a fifth office in Cheltenham in April 2002 and a sixth shortly after that. The location of the sixth office has yet to be settled. A programme of research will begin shortly, which will evaluate the PDS and make recommendations for its future.

HEALTH

Overseas Treatment (Lutterhaus Hospital)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total cost to the NHS of the knee replacements to be carried out on three patients from West Sussex at the Lutterhaus Hospital in Germany in February, including travel costs and accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 February 2002
	The information requested is commercially confidential.

Air Ambulances

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government plans to fund air ambulances throughout Britain once their funding from the Automobile Association finishes.

Hazel Blears: We are currently in discussion with air ambulance charities.

Hospital Waiting Times

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected cost to public funds is of ensuring that by the end of 2005 the maximum waiting time for an out-patient appointment will be three months and for in-patients, six months.

John Hutton: Health expenditure for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06 will be determined as part of the 2002 spending review, which is due to conclude in summer 2002.

Primary Care Trusts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the state of preparedness from primary care groups becoming primary care trusts.

John Hutton: holding answer 29 November 2001
	There are currently 164 primary care trusts in operation.
	A further 136 proposals have been approved with 19 more proposals being considered to become operational on 1 April 2002.
	The estimated total of PCTs operating from 1 April 2002 is expected to be around 300.
	The process for approving applications for primary care trust status is contained in Health Service Circular 1999–167. In approving applications to establish PCTs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State needs to be satisfied that four key criteria are met. These are:
	The benefits of what will be achieved.
	The degree of support for the proposal.
	The 'fitness' of the proposed organisation to deliver.
	The impact on other organisations.
	These criteria must be demonstrated in the PCT proposal. PCTs are established after full and open consultation locally, giving every opportunity for views and concerns to be expressed and addressed.

Private Hospitals

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average (a) income of and (b) number of patients treated by an acute hospital in England and Wales was in the last financial year.

John Hutton: The information requested is not available at hospital level. Figures have been provided on a trust basis.
	The table shows figures for acute trusts in England in 2000–01. The hospital activity data are based on finished consultant episodes of in-patient care for acute consultant specialties; this does not represent the number of individual patients treated as this information is not available.
	The income data show the total income for each trust as a whole (for example, not only acute care). For each trust, total income has been given, but the primary care trust values are 'gross operating costs' because they do not show income in the same way as trusts, however, they are still comparable.
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and total income by trust for acute specialities NHS hospitals, England 2000–01
		
			 Trust Acute care FCEs Total Income £000 
		
		
			 Royal Surrey County hospital NHS trust 36,764 87,492 
			 East Somerset NHS trust 29,428 54,053 
			 Bradford hospitals NHS trust 94,277 142,126 
			 Doncaster Royal Infirmary 73,303 108,071 
			 Southend hospital NHS trust 71,547 112,589 
			 The Royal National Orthopaedic NHS trust 7,684 43,222 
			 North Middlesex hospital NHS trust 36,117 86,050 
			 The Hillingdon hospital NHS trust 31,279 95,657 
			 Kingston hospital NHS trust 45,269 107,302 
			 Taunton and Somerset NHS trust 57,133 135,489 
			 Royal National hospital for rheumatic diseases 2,355 10,352 
			 West Dorset general hospitals NHS trust 40,111 70,497 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS trust 9,651 44,793 
			 Walsall hospitals NHS trust 44,018 88,293 
			 Wirral hospital NHS trust 74,999 142,159 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool NHS trust 12,078 41,454 
			 Royal Liverpool childrens NHS trust 27,186 78,628 
			 Christie hospital NHS trust 32,498 68,428 
			 Bedford hospitals NHS trust 36,509 69,794 
			 Ealing hospital NHS trust 27,373 67,137 
			 Luton and Dunstable hospital NHS trust 46,194 85,936 
			 South Tees Acute hospitals NHS trust 100,838 173,604 
			 Sheffield children's hospital 17,963 41,712 
			 Royal United hospital Bath NHS trust 60,389 104,609 
			 Poole hospitals NHS trust 50,849 88,601 
			 Milton Keynes general hospital 34,141 63,661 
			 Basildon and Thurrock general hospital 50,257 101,882 
			 Eastbourne hospitals NHS trust 42,269 107,619 
			 Frimley Park hospital NHS trust 52,738 89,787 
			 Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals NHS trust 77,220 101,983 
			 Royal Cornwall hospitals NHS trust 99,638 146,996 
			 Aintree hospitals NHS trust 69,981 132,185 
			 Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS trust 4,444 22,318 
			 Liverpool women's hospital NHS trust 16,173 39,762 
			 Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS trust 5,997 26,249 
			 Wrightington hospital NHS trust 7,911 19,609 
			 Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals NHS trust 41,383 66,522 
			 Barnsley District general hospital 49,593 71,976 
			 Rotherham general hospitals NHS trust 40,062 91,882 
			 Chesterfield and north Derbyshire 54,048 76,668 
			 West Middlesex University NHS trust 25,126 73,519 
			 Bromley hospitals NHS trust 50,346 140,982 
			 Havering hospitals NHS trust 58,568 129,296 
			 Papworth hospital NHS trust 14,736 46,924 
			 Peterborough hospitals NHS trust 56,493 89,107 
			 James Paget hospital NHS trust 42,430 82,909 
			 Ispwich hospital NHS trust 59,420 107,090 
			 West Suffolk hospital NHS trust 48,482 70,753 
			 Brighton Healthcare NHS trust 51,702 141,724 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS trust 37,545 66,510 
			 Gloucestershire Royal NHS trust 53,922 101,580 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS trust 84,202 140,492 
			 Portsmouth hospitals NHS trust 111,296 232,522 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals NHS trust 62,504 136,950 
			 Lewisham hospital NHS trust 33,282 97,484 
			 Mayday healthcare NHS trust 36,154 101,456 
			 South Warwickshire general hospital 44,704 59,806 
			 Mid Staffordshire general hospital 45,414 97,295 
			 North Staffordshire hospital NHS trust 119,431 193,823 
			 Burton hospitals NHS trust 39,110 67,068 
			 Good Hope hospital NHS trust 47,180 71,544 
			 Countess of Chester hospital NHS trust 52,154 79,393 
			 The Kings Mill centre for health 66,338 74,933 
			 Plymouth hospitals NHS trust 97,750 188,822 
			 Walsgrave hospitals NHS trust 85,153 205,640 
			 Warrington hospital NHS trust 51,422 78,899 
			 Whittington hospital NHS trust 35,288 85,941 
			 The Princess Royal hospital NHS trust 29,059 43,770 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt orthopaedic and DH 7,615 32,077 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton hospital 76,693 125,448 
			 Carlisle hospital NHS trust 36,477 67,545 
			 City hospitals Sunderland NHS trust 74,285 140,439 
			 Hereford hospitals NHS trust 31,636 52,659 
			 George Eliot hospital NHS trust 36,531 56,785 
			 Birmingham Women's Healthcare NHS trust 11,598 43,232 
			 City hospital NHS trust 57,087 117,877 
			 Royal Shrewsbury hospitals NHS trust 53,072 80,280 
			 Norfolk and Norwich healthcare NHS trust 118,136 156,358 
			 North Manchester Healthcare NHS trust 48,045 111,810 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS trust 45,670 62,769 
			 Blackpool Victoria hospital NHS trust 76,639 133,028 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS trust 45,539 91,032 
			 North Hampshire hospitals NHS trust 32,431 85,233 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust 30,702 72,379 
			 Dudley group of hospitals NHS trust 64,092 144,195 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS trust 37,146 79,567 
			 Kettering general hospital NHS trust 51,488 92,364 
			 Northampton general hospital NHS trust 63,389 109,332 
			 Stoke Mandeville hospital NHS trust 31,223 70,349 
			 Great Ormond Street hospital for children NHS trust 21,822 132,649 
			 Moorfields eye hospital NHS trust 21,638 43,910 
			 Medway NHS trust 41,279 94,128 
			 The Queen Victoria hospital NHS trust 10,162 22,685 
			 Worthing and Southlands hospitals NHS trust 48,673 84,135 
			 The Royal East Sussex NHS trust 36,474 64,653 
			 The Royal Marsden hospital NHS trust 30,151 86,576 
			 Birmingham children's hospital 23,441 91,388 
			 The Manchester children's hospital 30,001 69,378 
			 Mid Essex hospitals NHS trust 59,748 120,239 
			 The Princess Alexandra hospital 36,475 90,535 
			 Homerton hospital NHS trust 31,947 82,002 
			 Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS trust 78,580 204,824 
			 Pindersfield and Pontefract hospital 78,815 141,434 
			 Royal Orthopaedic hospital NHS trust 11,021 30,200 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS trust 24,769 130,828 
			 Southern Derbyshire acute hospital 98,446 164,053 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals NHS trust 29,604 111,223 
			 Morecambe Bay hospitals NHS trust 72,327 129,982 
			 Northwick Park/Central Middlesex 50,928 189,457 
			 Chase Farm Wellhouse NHS trust 67,975 152,511 
			 Epsom/St Helier NHS trust 70,202 174,284 
			 East Kent hospitals NHS trust 109,905 247,128 
			 Southport and Ormskirk NHS trust 50,136 86,709 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire hospital 110,824 212,895 
			 United Lincolnshire hospitals NHS trust 120,448 199,080 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust 70,093 155,350 
			 West Hertfordshire hospitals NHS trust 66,202 163,440 
			 Worcestershire acute hospitals NHS trust 80,116 173,566 
			 The United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust 82,729 225,073 
			 Northern general hospital NHS trust 61,663 178,477 
			 The Royal Free Hampstead hospital 59,356 266,340 
			 Central Manchester healthcare trust 64,323 222,543 
			 Nottingham City hospital NHS trust 91,768 186,897 
			 Central Sheffield University hospital 96,914 202,664 
			 Nottingham University hospital 84,046 190,179 
			 Addenbrooke's NHS trust 87,612 217,513 
			 Southampton University hospital 95,232 239,382 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust 80,448 403,301 
			 St Mary's hospital NHS trust 56,040 186,056 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS trust 61,202 223,195 
			 King's Healthcare NHS trust 56,718 236,398 
			 South Manchester University hospitals NHS trust 83,990 180,652 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS trust 51,846 123,398 
			 Barts and the London NHS trust 85,561 328,379 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University hospital NHS trust 83,169 196,874 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust 52,342 195,039 
			 The Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust 67,224 273,738 
			 Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust 178,932 504,292 
			 University hospital Birmingham 70,041 228,410 
			 University College London hospitals NHS trust 58,018 341,910 
			 The Newcastle upon Tyne hospital 149,187 332,014 
			 Oxford Radcliffe hospital NHS trust 102,235 300,442 
			 University hospitals of Leicester NHS trust 181,443 346,083 
			  
			 Total 8,004,613 18,216,628 
			 Average 186,154 423,643 
		
	
	Notes:
	Finished consultant episodes data
	An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one healthcare provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
	FCE figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.
	Income data:
	2000–01 income figures remain provisional and are subject to continuing audit by the National Audit Office.
	Source:
	Primary Care Trust Summarisation Schedules 2000–01
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 2000–01

NICE

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place with (a) representatives of NICE, (b) representatives of patients' groups, (c) representatives of professional groups, (d) representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, (e) representatives of health authorities and trusts and (f) other health organisations as part of the preparatory work in relation to the review of NICE; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 3 December 2001
	As part of routine business we have held a number of discussions on this subject, particularly with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the pharmaceutical industry.
	We expect shortly to issue a consultation document on aspects of the NICE appraisal process. The document will be limited in scope, taking account of the review already undertaken in the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry and the current inquiry by the Health Select Committee.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries in the EU allow children to be given single inoculations for measles, mumps and rubella.

Yvette Cooper: As far as we are aware, all European Union countries recommend measles, mumps and rubella vaccine as the safest way to protect children.
	We are not aware of any EU country where the health service routinely offer parents a choice of MMR or single vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella.
	Like the United Kingdom, EU countries prevent the use of licensed vaccines, including single vaccines.

NHS Staff (Disciplinary Action)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many disciplinary actions took place in 2001 involving NHS staff in allegations of (a) racism and (b) sexism.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The Department does not routinely collect information regarding the disciplinary proceedings carried out in national health service organisations. Disciplinary action is a matter for local employers. National health service employers have a responsibility to investigate alleged breaches of acceptable standards by staff, and to consider whether any disciplinary action is required as a result of such allegations.

Traditional Medicines Directive

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact upon the United Kingdom health products industry of the lack of provision in the proposed Traditional Medicines Directive for products which are combinations of herbs with nutrients;
	(2)  what legislative provision he plans to propose to secure the continued availability of products which are combinations of nutrients with herbs but which are (a) not foods and (b) unlikely to fall within the provisions of the forthcoming Traditional Medicines Directive;
	(3)  what recent assessment has been made of how products which are combinations of herbs with nutrients may achieve compliance with the proposed Traditional Medicines Directive.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 22 January 2002
	Some products containing herbal ingredients and nutrients may currently be sold under food law. Where, however, products containing herbal ingredients and nutrients as active ingredients are classified as medicines, they require a marketing authorisation before being placed on the market. The regulatory position of such products would remain unaffected by the proposals for a directive on traditional herbal medicinal products which have been adopted by the European Commission.
	The Commission's proposals for a directive are, as anticipated, restricted to traditional herbal medicines. Mixtures of herbal and other active ingredients would therefore fall outside the scope of the directive. We will need to give consideration to the criteria for determining the circumstances in which ingredients would be regarded as active.
	The proposed directive contains provision for a later review which would consider the possibility of extending traditional use registrations to other categories of medicinal products. Our current assessment is that an extension of the proposed system for traditional use registrations to other categories of traditionally used medicines would be insufficient to cover a significant proportion of herbal and nutrient combination products. It would require an additional change in European legislation to permit on the market those herbal and nutrient combination products classified as medicines for which neither evidence of traditional use nor efficacy, as required for a marketing authorisation, could be demonstrated. Our current priority remains to secure an effective regulatory regime for traditional herbal remedies.

Medical Errors

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients within the NHS have (a) died and (b) been injured as a result of user error of medical equipment in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 28 January 2002
	The national health service reports incidents involving medical devices to the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) who maintain a database of reported incidents.
	The MDA has successfully promoted the adverse incident reporting system over this period. There has been an increase in the total number of reports received from 5,380 in 1997 to 7,896 in 2001. Therefore, these figures do not necessarily indicate an increase in the number of incidents occurring, rather the results of the strenuous efforts taken by the MDA to improve incident reporting.
	From the MDA's database the number of patients within the NHS that (a) died and (b) been injured as a result of user error of medical equipment in each of the last five years is given in the table.
	
		
			   2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 
		
		
			 (a) User error incidents involving a fatality 7 0 2 0 0 
			 (b) User error incidents involving an injury 45 21 7 3 3 
		
	
	The National Patient Safety Agency will be working closely with the MDA in the reporting and sharing of information on adverse incidents involving medical devices. This collaboration will serve to enhance patient safety by learning from errors involving medical devices and in this way help reduce harm to future patients.

KPMG

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Hazel Blears: The Department has six contracts with KPMG for the financial year 2001–02, to date. This includes five small contracts with individual values of £11,720, £1,283, £1,012, £18,898 and £1,499. The sixth is an on-going framework contract, managed by national health service estates on behalf of the Department, for which it is not possible to give a final value but where expenditure to date is £0.97 million.

Personal Information

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that no personal information about NHS patients will be disclosed by Ministers, and officials acting on their behalf, beyond that which has been made public as a result of steps deliberately taken by the patients themselves, or with their explicit consent.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 January 2002
	Disclosure of personal information is regulated by legislation and, where the information concerned is held in confidence, by common law obligations. In many circumstances it would be unlawful to disclose such information without the consent of the individual concerned unless the information is already in the public domain. Ministers and officials are aware of their responsibilities. However, there may arise circumstances where, in the broader public interest and subject to tests of necessity and proportionality, disclosure is both lawful and appropriate, for example where failure to do so might place others at significant risk.

Personal Information

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that no information relating to NHS patients of a sensitive nature, covered by Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act 1998, will be processed other than in accordance with Schedule 3 of that Act.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 January 2002
	Guidance issued by the Department makes it clear that the processing of sensitive patient information must be in accordance with schedules 2 and 3 of the Data Protection Act 1998. Responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 rests with each national health service body or other data controller as defined by that Act.

Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire Health Authority

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed in the NHS in the Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire health authority (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by qualification and practice nurses and practitioners (excluding GP retainers) and medical and dental staff working in the Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire health authority area as at 30 September of each year -- Headcount
		
			 Category 1997 2000 
		
		
			 All Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting staff 3,120 3,620 
			 Of which:   
			 Qualified 2,820 3,220 
			 Unqualified 300 400 
			
			 Practice Nurses 240 270 
			
			 All Practitioners (excluding GP retainers)(48) 310 330 
			 Of which:   
			 Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)(49) 300 310 
			
			 All Medical and Dental Staff(50) 540 670 
		
	
	(48) All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) include UPE's, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para 52 SFA) and PMS Others. GP retainers were collected for the first time in 1999, in 2000 there were 11 in the Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire health authority area.
	(49) Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs) includes GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	(50) Excludes Medical Hospital Practitioners and Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are also GPs working part-time in hospitals.
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Due to rounding totals may not equal sum of component parts.
	4. 2000 figures are those currently available.
	5. 2001 figures will be released shortly.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical services Statistics.

Health Authority Chairmen

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list health authority chairmen in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Health authority 
		
		
			  Existing HA chairs to 31 March 2002 
			 Cllr. M. Morris Salford and Trafford 
			 Cllr. S. Taylor Nottingham 
			 Cllr. B. Harrison Manchester 
			 Dr. C. Varlaam Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 
			 Dr. J. O'Brien Northumberland 
			 Dr. S. Kay Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 
			 Dr. S. Lawrence Leeds 
			 Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract Wakefield 
			 Major General R. Keightley Dorset 
			 Miss C. Andrew Coventry 
			 Miss M. Barrett Cambridgeshire 
			 Mr. A. Bullen South Lancashire 
			 Mr. A. Maden Bury and Rochdale 
			 Mr. A. Sexton North Essex 
			 Mr. A. Tolhurst North Nottinghamshire 
			 Mr. A. Wenban-Smith Birmingham 
			 Mr. A. Williamson North and East Devon 
			 Mr. B. Betterton North Cumbria 
			 Mr. C. Creswick Gloucestershire 
			 Mr. D. Fathers Doncaster 
			 Mr. D. Murray South Staffordshire 
			 Mr. F. Hucker Oxfordshire 
			 Mr. F. Ludlow Sefton 
			 Mr. F. Stewart East Kent 
			 Mr. G. Healey Leicestershire 
			 Mr. I. Pirnie Morecambe Bay 
			 Mr. J. Alston Norfolk 
			 Mr. J. Lewis East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 
			 Mr. J. Mills Sunderland 
			 Mr. J. Pitts Solihull 
			 Mr. J. Powell Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 
			 Mr. J. Rudd South Derbyshire 
			 Mr. K. Marsh Dudley 
			 Mr. M. Brereton North Staffordshire 
			 Mr. M. Brookes South Essex 
			 Mr. M. O'Riordan Sandwell 
			 Mr. M. Van Der Schalk West Surrey 
			 Mr. N. Humphreys North and Mid Hampshire 
			 Mr. P. Bingham Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 
			 Mr. P. Brokenshire Redbridge and Waltham Forest 
			 Mr. P. Carr Newcastle and North Tyneside 
			 Mr. P. Gillibrand Southampton and SW Hants 
			 Mr. P. Smallridge West Kent 
			 Mr. P. Smith Stockport 
			 Mr. R. Berry Bradford 
			 Mr. R. Lingham Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 
			 Mr. R. Wing East Riding  
			 Mr. S. Cussons South Cheshire 
			 Mr. S. Sharma Calderdale and Kirklees 
			 Mr. T. Dowell Avon 
			 Mr. T. Mackriel Wolverhampton 
			 Mr. T. McCabe West Pennine 
			 Mr. T. Waites Tees 
			 Mr. W. Darling Gateshead and South Tyneside 
			 Mrs. A. Cook North Derbyshire 
			 Mrs. C. Moore Herefordshire 
			 Mrs. C. Rollinson East Surrey 
			 Mrs. E. Owen Shropshire 
			 Mrs. H. Nellis Bedfordshire 
			 Mrs. J. Barrie Somerset 
			 Mrs. J. Cravos Worcestershire 
			 Mrs. J. Garlick Wigan and Bolton 
			 Mrs. J. Greensmith Liverpool 
			 Mrs. J. Leverton South and West Devon 
			 Mrs. J. Reay Kingston and Richmond 
			 Mrs. J. Spicer Suffolk 
			 Mrs. K. Reade East Lancashire 
			 Mrs. K. Riddle Sheffield 
			 Mrs. L. Liptrott North Cheshire 
			 Mrs. M. Keyworth South Humber 
			 Mrs. M. Oldfield Rotherham 
			 Mrs. M. Pearce Wirral 
			 Mrs. M. Woodcock Walsall 
			 Mrs. N. Giubertoni St. Helen's and Knowsley 
			 Mrs. N. Saunders West Sussex 
			 Mrs. P. Acklam Barnsley 
			 Mrs. S. Wrigley North Yorkshire 
			 Mrs. V. Darbyshire North West Lancashire 
			 Ms A. Millett Wiltshire 
			 Ms C. Hay Hillingdon 
			 Ms I. Short Buckinghamshire 
			 Ms J. Hunt Camden and Islington 
			 Ms L. Smith Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 
			 Ms M. Saunders Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 
			 Ms S. Young Barking and Havering 
			 Ms T. Letts Croydon 
			 Professor E. Murphy East London and The City 
			 Sir R. Tilt Northamptonshire 
			  New HA chairs (from 1 April 2002) 
			 Mr. Ian White Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 
			 Mr. M. Brookes Essex 
			 Mr. S. Francis Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 
			 Mrs. Marcia Saunders London North Central 
			 Professor Elaine Murphy London North East 
			 Miss Jane Kelly London North West 
			 Mrs. Linda Smith London South East 
			 Mr. James Cochrane London South West 
			 Mrs. Judith Greensmith Cheshire and Merseyside 
			 Mrs. Kath Reade Cumbria and Lancashire 
			 Mr. Phillip Smith Greater Manchester 
			 Mr. T. Waites County Durham and Tees Valley 
			 Professor D. Johns North and East Yorkshire and North Lincs 
			 Mr. P. Carr Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 
			 Sir Alistair Graham West Yorkshire 
			 Mr. Peter Bingham Hampshire and Isle of Wight 
			 Miss Kate Lampard Kent and Medway 
			 Mrs. Teri Hawksworth Surrey and Sussex 
			 Mrs. Jane Betts Thames Valley 
			 Mrs. Anthea Millet Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 
			 Mrs. Jane Barrie Dorset and Somerset 
			 Mrs. Judy Leverton South West Peninsula 
			 Sir Richard Tilt Leicestershire, Northampton and Rutland 
			 Mrs. Kathryn Riddle South Yorkshire 
			 Mr. Arthur Sandford Trent 
			 Mrs. Elisabeth Buggins Birmingham and the Black Country 
			 Mr. Michael Brereton Shropshire and Staffordshire 
			 Mr. Charles Goody Coventry, Warks, Herefordshire and Worcs

Buckinghamshire Health Authority

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Buckinghamshire health authority area benefited from the hospital travel costs scheme in each year since 1997; and what the total cost was to public funds in each year.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally.

Complaints

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many written complaints the Buckinghamshire health authority has received concerning treatment received in accident and emergency departments in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many written complaints by hospital patients have been received by the Buckinghamshire health authority in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information is collected at trust not health authority level. Information on complaints, including accident and emergency services, is contained in "Handling Complaints: Monitoring the NHS Complaints Procedures" statistical report. Copies are available in the Library.

Assaults

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff employed by the Buckinghamshire health authority were assaulted by patients in each of the last five years; and how many people were successfully prosecuted.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.

Dental Health

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to improve education of parents and children on dental health; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Health authorities are responsible for oral health promotion and currently they attach particular importance to ensuring that oral health is covered in initiatives like Sure Start, Health Action Zones and Healthy Living Centres. Last June, to complement this work, we launched our "Brushing for Life" scheme, which targets families with young children in the 21 areas where dental decay is highest. When carrying out developmental checks, health visitors demonstrate good tooth brushing practice and give the families a free pack containing a tube of fluoridated toothpaste, a toothbrush and a leaflet on oral hygiene.

Fluoridation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of fluoridation schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The report, "Systematic Review of Water Fluoridation", published by the University of York in October 2000, confirmed that fluoridating water helps to reduce tooth decay, but also identified the need for more good quality research. We have asked the Medical Research Council for advice on how the evidence base might be strengthened and their report is expected in spring 2002.

Redundancies

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of staff redundancy packages arising as a consequence of organisational change in the NHS, broken down by region, since 1996.

John Hutton: The Department does not hold details of staff redundancy costs by region arising as a consequence of organisational change in the national health service.

Contracts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department has had since 1997 with (a) Arthur Andersen and (b) Accenture for (i) accountancy, (ii) audit and (iii) consultancy work; and what staff have been seconded (A) to his Department from and (B) from his Department to these firms.

John Hutton: The Department has let two contracts to Arthur Andersen since 1997 and one very small value contract with Accenture, which ended in February 2001. Records do not indicate whether the contracts were for (i) accountancy, (ii) audit or (iii) consultancy work.
	The Medicines Control Agency has a long-term IT operational support contract with Accenture (and previously with Andersen Consulting).
	The Purchasing and Supply Agency has one long-term contract with Arthur Andersen for audit services, which terminates in March 2002, and has let one short contract with them for consultancy work since 1997. The agency has one current contract with Accenture, for consultancy work, beginning January 2002 and terminating in March 2002.
	Records held centrally in the Department indicate that there have been no secondments between this Department and these firms, in either direction.

Ambulance Crews (Assaults)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many ambulance crew members had to take sick leave owing to being assaulted while on duty in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many ambulance crew members are on sick leave owing to being assaulted while on duty;
	(3)  how many ambulance crew members were assaulted while on duty in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: Information on level of sickness absence resulting from violence at work, by individual staff group, is not collected centrally, but may be held at a local level by individual national health service employers. Data on violent incidents and sickness absence involving all staff in the NHS were not collected on a national basis prior to 1998.
	The Department conducted a survey of NHS trusts in England in 1998–99. The survey found that, on average, seven violent incidents were recorded each month per 1,000 staff. This is equivalent to approximately 65,000 violent incidents against NHS trust staff each year. Details of the survey can be found in Health Service Circular 1999/229: "Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS", a copy of which is in the Library.
	The average sickness absence rate for staff directly employed by NHS ambulance trusts in 1999 was 6.6 per cent.

Stakeholders

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 629W, on the NHS Reform Bill, how he defines the term key local stakeholder.

John Hutton: Stakeholders are identified locally but would be expected to include frontline health community organisations and their local partners, patients and the public. Key stakeholders are likely to include:
	National health service trusts;
	Primary care trusts;
	Strategic health authorities;
	Voluntary organisations;
	Local authorities;
	Patients representatives;
	Professional and staff representatives; and
	Others deemed appropriate in the local context.

National Alcohol Strategy

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the work on the National Alcohol Strategy commenced; at what stage the work is at present; when it is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The White Paper "Our Healthier Nation" (1999) set out that the Government, local organisations, the voluntary sector and the drinks industry would need to take action to successfully tackle alcohol misuse.
	The Department is working on a consultation paper for the strategy which will:
	draw in contributions from the bodies and organisations mentioned;
	review progress to date;
	outline a programme for the future.
	The NHS Plan sets out the timetable for publishing and implementing the strategy. The plan says that the Department will be implementing the strategy by 2004 and we are well on the way to achieving this target.

Public Appointments

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been appointed by him to official bodies and NDPBs coming under the aegis of his Department in the last three years; and who they were.

Hazel Blears: Information on all appointments made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Department's public bodies at 1 April 2001 is included in the Department of Health Public Appointments annual report 2001, copies of which were sent to all hon. Members on 26 January. Copies are also available in the Library. Appointments made to national health service trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts have since 1 April 2001 been the responsibility of the NHS Appointments Commission. Terms of office of those appointed to public bodies vary, but most are for four years.

Dental Practice Board

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the remit is of the Dental Practice Board; what the objectives of the Dental Practice Board are; who sets the objectives; how the performance of the Dental Practice Board will be monitored; and what the budget of the board is.

Hazel Blears: The Dental Practice Board is a statutory NHS body with responsibilities for vetting treatment claims from, and paying remuneration to, dentists providing general dental services and certain personal dental services under the NHS.
	Its objectives are mainly to ensure that payment claims are accurately processed, that dental treatments and payments are monitored for probity and quality, including independent professional scrutiny by dentists employed within its Dental Reference Service, and to provide appropriate information on dental payments and the provision of services. The Secretary of State for Health and the National Assembly for Wales set the objectives of the Dental Practice Board.
	The Department of Health on behalf of the Secretary of State monitors the performance of the Dental Practice Board for Health and by the National Assembly for Wales.
	The core administrative budget for the Dental Practice Board for the year 2001–02 is:
	
		
			£ 
		
		
			 Capital  
			 England 703,000 
			 Wales 37,000 
			   
			 Revenue  
			 England 21,358,000 
			 Wales 1,124,000

NHS Activity Levels

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the activity levels were in the quarter to (a) September 2000 and (b) September 2001 for (i) new attendances at accident and emergency departments, (ii) first out-patient attendances, (iii) general and acute elective hospital spells and (iv) general and acute non-elective spells.

John Hutton: The activity levels for quarter to (a) September 2000 and (b) September 2001 for (i) new attendances at accident and emergency departments, (ii) first outpatient attendances, (iii) general and acute elective hospital spells and (iv) general and acute non- elective spells are outlined in the table.
	
		Attendances and hospital spells in England -- million
		
			  2000(51) 2001(51) 
		
		
			 Accident and emergency first attendances 3,321 3,341 
			 General and acute out-patient first attendances 2,763 2,795 
			 Hospital spells—general and acute 2,282 2,293 
			 of which:   
			 Elective 1,308 1,305 
			 Non-elective .974 .988 
		
	
	(51) July to September

Diabetes

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the national health service framework for diabetes will receive additional dedicated funding centrally.

Jacqui Smith: Funding for the Diabetes National Service Framework is being considered as part of our spending review, together with other priorities. We shall set milestones in the delivery strategy for the framework, to be published this summer, based upon the resources that will be available.

Prescribing

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to convene the New Prescribing Advisory Committee.

Hazel Blears: We are considering whether to establish a new advisory committee under the Medicines Act 1968 or whether to ask an existing committee, such as the Committee on Safety of Medicines, to make recommendations to Ministers on which prescription only medicines may be prescribed by new groups of prescribers. We are seeking the advice of the Medicines Commission and the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Prescribing

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects to announce his timetable for commencing section 63, on the extension of prescribing rights, of the Health and Social Care Act 2001;
	(2)  when he expects to extend prescribing rights to registered optometrists.

Hazel Blears: As a first step towards implementing the provisions of section 63 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, the Department and the Medicines Control Agency plan to undertake a joint public consultation in the spring on proposals to introduce supplementary prescribing for nurses and pharmacists. We will consider extending prescribing responsibilities to other health professions in the light of developments on these proposals.

Care Homes (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received from (a) the Laing and Buisson surgery and (b) other sources on the number of (i) care home closures and (ii) care home bed losses on the Isle of Wight in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the Department's figures for the number of nursing and residential homes and beds on the Isle of Wight since 1997.
	
		
			   Residential care homes Residential care home beds Nursing homes Nursing home beds 
		
		
			 1997 160 2,115 17 457 
			 1998 153 2,124 17 456 
			 1999 144 2,073 17 445 
			 2000 142 2,092 15 391 
			 2001 134 2,010 13 356 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health statistics
	The Laing and Buisson Market Survey, 2001, does not break information down by local authority.

Care Homes (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new care homes have been registered in Portsmouth, South since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of new home registrations in Portsmouth is not available. The number of care homes and places for each year since 1997 is given in the tables. Information on residential care and nursing care is not available on consistent boundaries.
	
		Table 1: Number of residential care homes and places in Portsmouth unitary authority, 1997 to 2001— at 31 March -- Number
		
			   Residential care homes Residential care places 
		
		
			 1997(52) (53)— (53)— 
			 1998 163 1,891 
			 1999 166 1,852 
			 2000 153 1,737 
			 2001 138 1,596 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Number of nursing(54) care homes and beds in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority, 1997 to 2001— at 31 March -- Number
		
			   Nursing care homes Nursing care beds 
		
		
			 1997(52) 64 1,708 
			 1998 63 1,718 
			 1999 66 1,784 
			 2000 66 1,636 
			 2001 61 1,689 
		
	
	(52) The number of homes in 1997 refers to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997
	(53) Not available
	(54) General and mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics. Includes dual registered homes, therefore the number of residential homes and nursing homes should not be added together
	Source:
	Department of Health's annual returns

NHS Appointments Commission

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people who had been appointed to a position within the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission had declared a political interest, broken down by political parties in 1997; and what proportion of the total number of appointees this represents for each political party;
	(2)  how many people who have been appointed to a position within the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission have declared a party political interest.

Hazel Blears: Appointments made by the national health service Appointments Commission since it was established on 1 April 2001 until 6 February 2002 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Health authorities National health service trusts Primary care trusts Total 
		
		
			 Conservative 1 15 16 32 
			 Labour 2 133 53 188 
			 Liberal Democrat 2 23 11 36 
			 Independent 0 4 5 9 
			 Other 0 3 0 3 
			 No political activity declared 18 365 132 515 
			  
			 Total 23 543 217 783

Long-term Care

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds were blocked last year in Oxfordshire owing to a shortage of long term care places.

Jacqui Smith: Management data for year ending 2000–01 suggest that, in relation to patients aged 75 and over, on any given day during 2000–01 Oxfordshire health authority had 22 delayed discharges due to a patient waiting for a nursing or residential care home placement. The health authority had 82 delays in total and a rate of delayed discharge of 13.4 per cent.

Paramedics

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the pay of paramedics in the Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 29 January 2002, Official Report, columns 282–83W.

Christchurch Health Centre

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to market the former Christchurch Health Centre premises since March 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 5 February 2002
	A marketing exercise for Christchurch Health Centre was conducted in March 2001 and a buyer has been identified. Terms have been agreed subject to contract and valuation report and solicitors have been instructed to complete the sale of the Department's leasehold interest in the property.

Multiple Sclerosis

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with MS likely to present themselves for assessment by a neurologist with a view to getting a disease-modifying drug on the NHS; and when they will have been assessed.

Hazel Blears: All patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), and those with secondary progressive MS in which relapses are the dominant feature, are eligible under the scheme for treatment on the national health service if they meet criteria developed by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN).
	It has been estimated that the total number of patients of England and Wales who fall within the ABN criteria might range between 7,500 and 9,000. The scheme starts to operate on 6 May 2002. It is anticipated that it might take 18 months to initiate all eligible patients on the scheme.

Smallpox Vaccine

Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 410W, upon what estimates on the rate of transmission of the smallpox infection his Department has based its containment strategy.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 February 2002
	The Department has commissioned work from the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research regarding transmission rates of smallpox infection. Results of this work were recently published in the scientific journal, Nature. Transmission rates will vary with the particular circumstances of the outbreak of any disease. Estimates of transmission rates range from four to six in a community acquired infection in modern settings, to the higher levels of 10 to 12 in circumstances where the outbreak has taken some time to be fully recognised and appropriate infection controls implemented.

Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the London regional office will conclude its review of the Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust in respect of its management of in-patient waiting lists; and if he will publish the findings.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 February 2002
	Epsom and St. Helier National Health Service Trust validates both its active and suspended list on a regular basis and is confident that their waiting lists are robust and accurate. Further validation was carried out by the trust itself as a result of being identified as having a suspension rate greater than 10 per cent. Epsom and St. Helier was not identified as having adjusted inappropriately its waiting list figures.
	The regional office conducts robust validation of waiting list data from trusts and health authorities including following up any irregularities. The regional office does not consider that there is any reason to review waiting list information at Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust. The Audit Commission has indicated that it will conduct a further audit of trusts whose suspension rate is higher than 10 per cent., as a matter of course.

Adoption and Fostering

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to propose amendments to the legislation regarding adoption and fostering of children.

Jacqui Smith: An Adoption and Children Bill is currently before Parliament. The Bill will overhaul the outdated Adoption Act 1976 and modernise the existing legal framework for domestic and intercountry adoption. It will implement the proposals in the White Paper, "Adoption: a new approach", published in December 2000, which require primary legislation and underpin our drive to improve the performance of the adoption service and promote greater use of adoption. The Bill will also help deliver our target of an increase of 40 per cent., and if possible 50 per cent., in the number of looked after children who are adopted.
	The Adoption and Children Bill was introduced and published on 19 October 2001. It received its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 29 October and has been considered by a Special Standing Committee. We also intend to develop new regulations and guidance on adoption as part of its programme to implement the Bill.
	We have also introduced new regulations and national minimum standards for fostering, to which all fostering service providers will be required to adhere. The new regulations were introduced in January and we are about to publish the standards. Both will come into force in April. They will apply in all settings, whether council, voluntary or independent, in England, creating a level playing field across the foster care sector and ensuring that service users can be confident that fostering service providers are operating to good standards.
	We are committed to taking action to ensure good quality services and thereby promote better placements for children and young people and reduce the potential of abuse and harm to children in foster care. Introducing a new regime of registration and inspection for fostering providers is an important part of our wider programme to improve services and outcomes for looked after children.

Private Medical Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them in each year since 1997–98; what the total cost is; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 6 February 2002
	No employees 1 of (a) the Department and (b) the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them since 1997–98.
	1 his does not include staff brought in on secondment from other organisations who may have private medical insurance provided for them as part of the terms and conditions of their own employers.

Home Care Packages

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to increase the number of home care packages for the elderly; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We are providing increased resources to local councils to fund personal social services, including the promoting independence grant, the carers grant, and the building care capacity grant, which can be used to increase the number of home care packages for older people. The provision of home care is an important element in the assessments of performance made by the social services inspectorate.

Physiotherapists

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many of the extra therapists by 2004 announced in the NHS plan will be physiotherapists;
	(2)  how many extra physiotherapists will be trained in each of the years from 2001 to 2004 as part of the NHS plan target to provide 4,450 more therapist and other key health professional training places each year by 2004.

John Hutton: The targets to provide 6,500 more therapists and other health professionals and 4,450 more therapist and other key health professional training places by 2004, have not been broken down into the different professions.
	Between 1999 and 2001 the number of allied health professionals increased by 3,400. A third (1,140) of this total increase was made up of physiotherapists. We would expect this proportion to remain broadly the same across the rest of the plan period.
	Between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 the number of physiotherapy training commissions increased by 127 (9 per cent.) and are projected to rise by a further 91 in 2001–02 (a total increase of 16 per cent. on the 1999–2000 baseline). We are working with work force development confederations to determine the split in the remainder of commissions. Early projections suggest an increase of at least 280 more training commissions for physiotherapy by 2003–04 (the largest increase in the professions covered). Recommendations on the final allocation will be made by the work force numbers advisory board later in the year and will take into account supply and demand information for physiotherapy.

Mobile Telephones

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the research which he has commissioned into the health effects of mobile telephones includes transmitter masts.

Yvette Cooper: The mobile telephone health research (MTHR) programme announced recently follows from the publication of a report in May 2000 by an independent expert group on mobile phones under the chairmanship of Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE on "Mobile Phones and Health". Radio signals from handsets were identified as a research priority because local exposures of people using phones are in general appreciably higher than exposures to the whole body from mobile phone masts. In both cases, however, exposures need to comply with exposure guidelines.
	The first group of proposals agreed for funding by the programme management committee has generally related to the areas of research identified in the Stewart report. Although the main focus of much of the funded research relates to the use of mobile phones, in practice many of the experimental studies will also be valuable in providing evidence on any possible effects on people of exposures to radiofrequency (RF) radiation from mobile phone masts. The agreed programme includes a study on exposures from the newer types of mobile phone masts that are being introduced in urban areas. Details of research now approved for funding are given on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.
	A second call for proposals was issued last year with a deadline for submission of outline proposals of 25 January 2002. The aim of this call was to extend the range of research being carried out in the MTHR programme. One aim of this call was to seek further proposals for volunteer studies that will examine possible effects of RF exposure of people. The proposals have yet to be considered but it is expected that some of the proposals will be of direct relevance to exposures to RF radiation from mobile phone masts.

Radiotherapy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for radiotherapy in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust area on (a) 1 January 1999, (b) 1 January 1997, (c) 1 January 2002 and (d) 1 February 2002; and what was the national average at these times.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

After-surgery Care

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) primary care trusts and (b) acute trusts put in place systems which provide care and support for patients who are discharged from hospital following day surgery.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The professional bodies produce clinical guidelines on the provision of a service. The Royal College of Surgeons' "Guidelines for Day Case Surgery" recognises the importance of post-operative care for day case patients. The guidelines set out the importance of meticulously planned post-operative care from the immediate period after the operation, through discharge, and up to the patient being seen for follow-up in out-patients. This system stresses the importance of patients having a number to call in case of a medical problem, and confirms that good communication between the hospital and the person's general practitioner is vital in monitoring the recovery of the patient.
	The departmental adviser on surgery, Professor Ara Darzi of Imperial College, has been asked to examine the use of day surgery over the coming months. Day surgery holds the key to faster, more convenient treatment for patients and less waiting for patients.

Dietary Supplements

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on the European Directive on dietary supplements.

Yvette Cooper: We are firmly committed to the view that, in the interests of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements, which are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed. The proposed directive would establish a framework for harmonised controls on vitamin and mineral content of food supplements and introduce a number of useful labelling measures.

Digital Hearing Aids

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts that will provide digital hearing aids in accordance with his announcement of December 2001.

Jacqui Smith: Health communities interested in joining the modernising hearing aid services project in 2002–03 are about to be invited to declare their interest. Decisions on the sites which best fulfil the selection criteria will be made quickly thereafter and a list of those sites will be announced at that time.

Medical Education (Investment)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of each regional NHS budget is earmarked for (a) medical, (b) higher and (c) further education capital investment; what investment in medical education other than new medical schools is being made in England; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The table shows health authorities' initial revenue resource limit allocations for 2001–02 aggregated on a regional basis. It also shows (a) the revenue sums added to initial allocations to support undergraduate medical education (the Service Increment for Teaching—SIFT) and postgraduate medical education (the Medical and Dental Education Levy—MADEL) and (b) capital made available in 2001–02 to support the increase in medical student numbers recommended by the Medical Workforce Advisory Committee in 1997. Medical education at universities is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council.
	
		£000 
		
			 Region 2001–02(55) SIFT MADEL SIFT Capital 
		
		
			 Northern and Yorkshire 4,899,449 48,257 106,061 0 
			 Trent 3,789,888 64,223 81,939 308 
			 Eastern 3,689,071 17,611 70,261 2,358 
			 London 6,043,669 212,010 194,932 0 
			 South East 6,012,626 35,397 126,850 0 
			 South West 3,556,776 18,970 72,780 2,046 
			 West Midlands 3,906,084 26,425 80,091 1,731 
			 North West 5,259,820 63,486 104,432 1,414 
		
	
	(55) Initial revenue allocation
	In 1998 we accepted the main recommendation of the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee that medical school intake should be increased by about 1,000 places per annum. The NHS Plan announced an increase of up to 1,000 further places by 2005. By 2005 the annual intake to medical schools in England is planned to have increased by 2,145 over 1997 levels. Of these new places 1,225 will be situated in existing medical schools and 920 in new medical schools and centres.

Nursing and Midwifery Student (Funding)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of nursing and midwifery students in the latest year for which figures are available had no access to student loans, university hardship funds and NHS hardship grants as a result of being on diploma courses.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Approximately 87 per cent. of national health service- funded students currently studying nursing and midwifery are undertaking the diploma level programme. Whilst these students are not eligible for student loans, university hardship funds or NHS hardship grants, they receive a higher level of basic bursary than those studying at degree level. The financial support available to each student is dependent on the individual's circumstances. Overall, while the nature and source of funding differs, the overall package of support available to the two groups is comparable.

Midwifery and Nursing

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government plans to take to bring about parity between diploma and degree students of midwifery and nursing.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The diploma and degree in nursing and midwifery are courses with different academic attainment that both lead to eligibility to register as a qualified nurse or midwife. We have no plans to change the two different routes of nurse training.

Medical Education

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government takes to encourage and finance the continuing professional development and education of consultants and GPs.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The General Medical Council places a duty on all doctors to keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their working lives. National health service budgets include provision for investment in continuing professional development for all NHS staff groups. For general practitioners this takes the form of a postgraduate education allowance of up to £2,700 which is payable annually to general medical service GPs undertaking accredited training to further their continuing professional development (CPD). A similar allowance is payable to personal medical service GPs through their contractual arrangements.
	We are also taking steps to encourage and formalise participation in CPD through the introduction of appraisal systems for NHS doctors. A new system of appraisal for GPs is to be introduced this year. An appraisal system for hospital consultants was introduced from April 2001. Both systems are professionally driven and led. GP appraisal will be organised and funded by primary care trusts but the appraisals themselves will be undertaken by suitably trained GPs. Consultant appraisal is organised and funded by the NHS employer but the appraisals themselves will be undertaken by suitably trained doctors. The objective of appraisal is to support the doctor concerned in identifying his/her personal and professional development needs and providing a personal development plan to address them which will in turn focus the doctor's continuing professional development over the year to come.
	An additional £20 million is being invested in 2001–02 to support and encourage the development of all health professionals, including consultants and GPs, with more to come in the next couple of years—a further £30 million has been agreed for CPD activity in 2002–03.

Breast Cancer

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list those (a) health authorities and (b) hospital trusts which have not achieved the Government target for all breast cancer patients to wait no longer than one month between diagnosis and treatment by December 2001;
	(2)  how many breast cancer patients in each of the last 12 months waited more than one month between diagnosis and treatment, broken down by health authority area; and what the total was in February 1997.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The data requested are not available. The target of a maximum wait of one month from diagnosis to first definitive treatment for breast cancer came into effect on 31 December 2001. Central monitoring began on 1 January 2002 and data will be published later in the year.

Dentists

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have opted out of the NHS in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Available information covers the number of dentists leaving the general dental service (GDS) in England and is shown in the table for the years 1996–97 to 2000–01.
	The number of leavers covers all reasons for leaving the GDS including final retirement from dental work, moves to other parts of the national health service and dentists taking career breaks as well as those who left to practice solely privately. Figures from 1998–99 onwards are inflated by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to some personal dental service (PDS) pilots. The total number of dentists includes principals on a health authority list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
	
		General dental service (GDS): Number of dentists who left the GDS from 1996–97 to 2000–01, England
		
			 Year  Principals Assistants Vocational trainees Total 
		
		
			 1996–97 692 64 78 834 
			 1997–98 738 85 77 900 
			 1998–99(56) 761 106 105 972 
			 1999–2-00(56) 780 157 95 1,032 
			 2000–01(56) 875 181 136 1,192 
		
	
	(56) Figures affected by the transfer of some dentists from the GDS to the PDS

Tobacco

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the harm caused to nicotine users of (a) using oral tobacco and (b) smoking cigarettes;
	(2)  what advice he received from (a) the Chief Medical Officer, (b) the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health and (c) other public health experts regarding the public health implications of the ban on oral tobacco products agreed in Article 8 of EU Directive 2001/37/EC.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Tobacco use is harmful to human health, both in oral forms and when smoked. Smoking tobacco is associated with various cancers, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and peptic ulcers. There are fewer data on which to appraise the full range of health risk from oral tobacco but it is associated with development of cancer in humans, notably mouth cancers. Oral use of tobacco produces blood nicotine levels, which are comparable to those of cigarette smokers.
	The Department has not sought advice from the Chief Medical Officer or the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health on the public health implications specific to the ban on oral tobacco products agreed in Article 8 of European Union Directive 2001/37/EC. In the United Kingdom in general there is no recent tradition of oral tobacco consumption but there is a tradition of use of oral products among some ethnic minority communities. The Department has a programme of work on tobacco use in ethnic minorities, which will address this issue with appropriate expert advice.

Care Home Beds (Wycombe)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement in the change on the number of care home beds in the Wycombe constituency since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information for the Wycombe constituency is not centrally available. The number of residential and nursing care homes and beds in Buckinghamshire is shown in the table.
	
		Number of residential and nursing care homes and beds in Buckinghamshire(57), 1997 to 2001—at 31 March
		
			   Residential care homes Nursing care homes, hospitals and clinics  
			   Homes Places Homes Places 
		
		
			 1997(58) 134 2,438 55 1,735 
			 1998 163 3,253 57 2,054 
			 1999 170 3,383 55 1,966 
			 2000 178 3,399 57 1,896 
			 2001 172 3,426 60 1,951 
		
	
	(57) Buckinghamshire as defined prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1997. Figures for 1998 onwards are for the redefined Buckinghamshire county council plus Milton Keynes unitary authority.
	(58) The number of nursing homes and beds in 1997 refers to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997.
	Source:
	Department of Health annual returns

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many episodes of in-patient care were purchased by the NHS in London in the independent mental health sector in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 663W.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what work has taken place on child and adolescent mental health services for the Children's National Service Framework;
	(2)  if he will list the meetings scheduled for the External Working Group on child and adolescent mental health services in the Children's National Service Framework; and when its work is expected to be complete;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 674W, on mental health, when the first meeting between his Department and the Department for Education and Skills to develop the mental health module of the Children's National Service Framework is scheduled to take place.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The first two meetings of the child and adolescent mental health External Working Group of the Children's National Service Framework have been set for 5 March and 24 April. The initial meeting will be primarily concerned with scoping the programme of work for the group. We envisage there will be at least two further meetings of the group this year. The Department for Education and Skills will be represented at a senior level on the group.
	The module on acute health services is scheduled to report to Ministers later this year the others will follow thereafter.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 750W, on mental health, how much capital expenditure has been profiled in respect to the DSPD unit at (a) Rampton and (b) Broadmoor, and, in each case, when it is profiled to be spent.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	New dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) persons units at Rampton and Broadmoor will deliver 140 places for DSPD persons by 2004. These are complex schemes, involving major innovations both in design, and in the approach to service delivery.
	At Rampton the profiled capital spend is £20.7 million, of which £500,000 will be spent by the end of this financial year 2001–02. The remainder will be spent in 2002–03 and 2003–04. The unit is planned to be completed in 2003, and to open in the autumn of 2003.
	Work on the unit at Broadmoor is at an earlier stage of development, and work to profile the capital spend is in hand. However, it is on target to open in 2004.

Clinical Depression

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) adults, (b) children and young persons and (c) adults over 65 years have clinical depression at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8 January 2002, Official Report, columns 663–64W.

Tilt Report

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first patient to move out of a hospital as a result of the Tilt report.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Some patients have already moved into placements that have been partially funded from the money provided as a result of the Tilt report. The Tilt funding represents a contribution towards the achievement of the NHS Plan commitment to move up to 400 inappropriately placed patients out of the high security hospitals by 2004 but is not intended to cover the full costs.

Air Ambulances

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he issues on the circumstances in which an air ambulance is more appropriate than its terrestrial equivalent for the transfer of patients to hospital;
	(2)  if he will list the air ambulances available to the health services in each nation of the UK indicating the areas they cover.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 11 February 2002
	There are currently 12 charitably funded air ambulance services operating in England. These are:
	Cornwall
	Kent
	West Midlands
	Devon
	North East England
	Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
	Essex
	North West England
	Thames Valley
	Dorset and Somerset
	West Yorkshire
	East Anglia.
	In addition the helicopter emergency medical service covers London within the M25 motorway. There are also helicopter air ambulance services provided in the form of joint operations with the police in both Sussex and Wiltshire.
	The charities are responsible for the number of aircraft provided and national health service ambulance trusts are responsible for calling out air ambulances to emergencies in accordance with locally agreed protocols. No central guidance has been issued.
	Provision of air ambulance services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

General Practitioner Lists

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he takes to ensure that children are not removed by general practitioners from their lists due to medical and lifestyle decisions by their parents.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	General practitioners have always had the right to remove patients from their list without giving a reason, just as patients have the right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving reasons. We strongly support the General Medical Council in their guidance "Duties of a Doctor" which makes clear it is unacceptable to discriminate against patients on grounds of lifestyle, culture, beliefs, race, colour, sex, sexuality, age, social status or perceived economic worth.

Northwood and Pinner Community Hospital

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Northwood and Pinner community hospital; and what plans he has received from the Hillingdon primary care trust for the development of facilities for general practice on the site.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Proposals for the future of Northwood and Pinner community hospital will emerge from strategic plans currently being developed in line with priorities identified within the Hillingdon local modernisation review. At this stage there are no firm proposals for the Northwood and Pinner community hospital site. Any proposed changes will form the subject of a formal public consultation.

Care Homes

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to raise the personal expenses allowance in care homes.

Jacqui Smith: Decisions on the level of the personal expenses allowance for people in residential care for April 2002 will be announced soon.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Global Conflict Prevention Pool

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects funded from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool since its establishment, indicating for each project the relevant countries and the total cost.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	A report on the activities of the pool in its first year will be published at the end of this financial year and will describe the programmes funded by the global pool. In the financial year 2001–02, a total of £60 million was allocated to the global pool, most of which is divided among the following 10 priority areas:
	The Balkans
	Central and Eastern Europe
	EU Civilian Crisis Management
	Indonesia and East Timor
	The Middle East and North Africa
	The OSCE
	Russia and the former Soviet Union
	Small arms and light weapons
	South Asia
	Strengthening the UN.
	The global pool also funds some conflict prevention related activity outside these areas for which funding was pre-committed when the pool was set up in April 2001.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assistance Her Majesty's Government (a) is providing and (b) has provided since 1990 to primary education in Zimbabwe;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the availability of teachers in Zimbabwe in each year since 1990;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the availability of (a) primary and (b) post primary education in Zimbabwe in each year since 1990.

Hilary Benn: DFID has assisted a number of reviews of the education sector in Zimbabwe in the last 10 years. Between 1979 and 1996, Zimbabwe made major achievements in increasing equity and access to education. The number of primary schools doubled—from 2,321 to 4,659—as did enrolment figures which rose from 1.24 to 2.49 million children. The number of secondary schools increased by 763 per cent. from 177 to 1,528, and enrolment increased by 923 per cent. to around 0.75 million. Since 1990, UK assistance in this sector has been modest, with projects aiming to improve the quality of teacher training and to localise the examination curriculum.
	Zimbabwe still has a strong education system in comparison to most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The net enrolment rate for primary education is currently 85 per cent. and in 1996, the last year for which statistics are available, 79 per cent. of primary school children continued on to secondary school. There are currently an estimated 104,000 teachers in Zimbabwe, the overwhelming majority of whom are trained graduates. However the education system is weakening, as are other social services, as a result of falling public spending; the rapidly rising costs of fees, books and paper; the impact of HIV/AIDS; and emigration of qualified personnel. DFID is currently assisting a study of the impact of HIV/AIDS on education.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the supply of staple foodstuffs in Zimbabwe in each year since 1990.

Hilary Benn: Maize is the staple foodstuff of Zimbabwe. DFID monitors crop forecasts through the SADC Famine Early Warning System, which also gives historical production data as follows:
	
		Maize production
		
			  (thousand metric tonnes) 
		
		
			 1991 1,586 
			 1992 361 
			 1993 2,012 
			 1994 2,326 
			 1995 840 
			 1996 2,609 
			 1997 2,192 
			 1998 1,418 
			 1999 1,520 
			 2000 2,040 
			 2001 1,476 
		
	
	Zimbabwe experienced very lean years in 1992 and 1995 when the rains failed. Maize production in these years was far short of the national requirement of around 2 million tonnes needed for human and animal consumption. The shortfall in national production in 2001, which was only 1.47 million tonnes, owes more to economic problems and disruption of farming than to climatic causes.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and Civil Service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Staff seconded to DFID from private sector since May 1997
		
			 Number of Staff  Organisation  Civil service grade and responsibilities  Salary paid by  Start and end dates 
		
		
			 4 Natural Resources Institute (NRI) 3 x A1 (former HCS Grade 6) 1 x A2 (former HCS Grade 7) natural resources research and advisory duties NRI 3 x pre-1997 to April 1999 1 x February 1999 to April 2000 
			 1 Marconi3 x A2 imfundo project team  
			 1 Virgin Oneproject planning responsibilitiesCompaniesMay to October 2000 
			 1 Cisco Systemsin the education sector

Voluntary Service Overseas

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what help she intends to give to Voluntary Service Overseas in relation to the insurance premiums payable by them in the aftermath of 11 September;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with Voluntary Service Overseas and other voluntary organisations about insurance premiums.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not been approached by either Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) or by other voluntary organisations about additional insurance premiums payable by them in the aftermath of 11 September 2001. This is a matter for VSO and the insurance companies.
	DFID already provides VSO with over £23 million a year under a three-year Partnership Programme Agreement worth £71.5 million.

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what legal costs have been incurred by her Department in each of the last four years.

Hilary Benn: Our records show that DFID has incurred legal costs totalling £230,972 in 1999–2000, £271,228 in 2000–01, and £249,030 in 2001–02 to date. The records for 1998–99 do not readily distinguish legal costs from other running costs—a disproportionate effort would be required to produce the information requested.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the publications issued by her Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Hilary Benn: The main DFID publications for each year are listed in our departmental reports to Parliament for 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	All DFID publications are free of charge unless otherwise indicated. This is in line with DFID's commitment to openness, as well as to raising awareness and understanding of development issues.
	Due to the disproportionate cost involved we are not able to provide the full level of details requested. We have an actively managed database of over 11,000 organisations and individuals who have asked to be informed about new publications, and also use supplementary distribution channels for material which is likely to be of interest to specific audiences. DFID's overall expenditure on publications in each of the last four years was as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 166 
			 1998–99 347 
			 1999–2000 570 
			 2000–01 639 
		
	
	The increase in expenditure in each of the last three years reflects both the expansion in the range of material which we now make publicly available, and also the increased demand for this material.

Burundian Rebels

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to monitor the activities of the Burundian rebel groups operating from refugee camps on the Tanzanian border.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Tanzania continues to insist that Burundian rebels are not using refugee camps in Tanzania as a base for their actions. The refugee camps on the Tanzanian border with Burundi are run by UNHCR. They provide us with regular reports on the situation in them and take all reasonable steps to ensure that the activities in the camps are consistent with their status. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Botswana

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 311W, on Botswana, what action she has taken to secure water access for the San bushmen of South Africa.

Hilary Benn: The Government of South Africa recognises the rights of access to basic water supply and sanitation in its 1996 Constitution and, through its Free Basic Water Policy, aims to make available 6,000 litres of water per month per household free of charge. This policy is motivated on the grounds that water is a basic service which is essential for health and that affordability should not constrain the access of poor and vulnerable people to this service. This policy applies to all disadvantaged and vulnerable groups within South Africa, including the San.
	DFID is providing assistance to the South African Department for Water Affairs and Forestry, to support their water services sector programme, with the goal of enhancing the livelihoods of marginalised groups through the creation of access to sustainable water and sanitation services.

Burkina Faso

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the new partnership for African development in relation to Burkina Faso.

Hilary Benn: The new partnership for African development (NEPAD) is an Africa-wide initiative that does not focus on specific countries. NEPAD has set up teams to work on five areas, which are: capacity building on peace and security; economic and corporate governance; infrastructure; central bank and financial standards; and agriculture and market access. Burkina Faso is not a member of the NEPAD steering committee or implementation committee. If Burkina Faso implements the principles set out by NEPAD, it should also benefit from the faster progress in development and poverty reduction that will ensue.

Burkina Faso

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds her Department provides to the Government of Burkina Faso.

Hilary Benn: We do not have a substantive development programme in Burkina Faso. However a small amount of funding is allocated for small-scale grants to developmentally worthy activities. Last year £19,000 was provided in this way to fund a food security project. The EC maintains a large development assistance programme. In 1999 (the last year for which we have details) this amounted to £33.93 million, the UK imputed share of which was approximately £6.3 million.

Malawi

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she is providing to people affected by floods in Malawi.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Malawi has not requested assistance. Flooding in low lying areas of the Shire Valley is seasonal and specific to a few areas. However my Department has contributed £3.5 million to the Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF), a public works programme which has a particular focus on remedial measures in flood prone districts. Income derived from the programme by the local population provides an alternative source of income when flooding occurs.

Afghanistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has provided to the Jawand district of Afghanistan since 11 September.

Hilary Benn: DFID assistance for emergency food provision in Afghanistan is channelled through the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which has received £6 million from my Department since September 2001. Needs have been met in most areas, but there remain pockets of unmet need in places difficult to access due to poor weather and insecurity. WFP is deploying helicopters into the country to assess the condition of hungry families as quickly as possible in such isolated areas, including Jawand district in Badghis province. This is one of the most seriously drought-affected and inaccessible areas, where WFP reports that food access is precarious.
	Because the area is extremely difficult to access in the winter, six months' worth of wheat, or 300 kilograms per family, were distributed in Siah Sangh town in Jawand district in early January. WFP is gearing up to move in other food items as soon as possible. By early January, 5,000 tons of food had been delivered to Jawand province, to a total of 15,000 households, or roughly 90,000 people.